Organization highlighted for work connecting traditional and urban farmers as suburban development reshapes Lake County agriculture
LAKE COUNTY, Ind.—The Lake County Farm Bureau (LCFB) was recently featured in The Times of Northwest Indiana, in a story examining how the organization is working to connect traditional farmers with a growing community of urban growers and home gardeners across the county.
The article, written by Aaron Dorman, centers on Dan Sutton, a fifth-generation farmer active with LCFB who works land on the west side of Lowell with his brother, growing corn, soybeans, wheat, and cattle. Sutton described Lake County as a “transition zone,” pointing to farmland near Cedar Lake that now sits directly alongside new residential development, with more open countryside only appearing farther south near Lowell.
Development Pressure on Local Farmland
The feature explored how suburban growth continues to push into farmland throughout the county, changing the calculus for many local farmers. Nick Zandstra, who operates a farm and greenhouse in Highland, noted that land in high-demand areas like Cedar Lake could attract a buyer from a developer within a single phone call. Dave Kleine, a third-generation dairy farmer who owns Kleine Dairy Farm in Cedar Lake (host site of LCFB’s Evening on the Farm event) shared similar concerns about being increasingly surrounded by new homes, as well as the rising competition among farmers themselves for limited available acreage and land rents. LCFB continues to track these land-use pressures through its farm advocacy and policy work.
A Growing Role for Urban Agriculture
Despite these pressures, the article highlighted a parallel trend: rising interest in small-scale urban farming and gardening within Lake County’s cities and towns. Sutton noted a “huge demand for urban agriculture,” with residents seeking to grow food for their own households or to support local churches and food pantries. The story pointed to Faith Farms in Gary as one example of this work already underway, supplying food directly to meal assistance and food insecurity programs in the community: the kind of grassroots effort LCFB engages through its Community Events and Food & Farm Forums.
LCFB’s Mission Going Forward
According to the feature, a central goal for LCFB is fostering dialogue between traditional and urban farmers, helping both groups identify ways to collaborate rather than operate separately. Sutton also identified a practical gap the Farm Bureau hopes to help close: many aspiring home growers are motivated but unsure where to start, from evaluating soil quality to choosing crops suited to the local climate, a need LCFB addresses in part through its youth & agriculture education programs.
“Traditional agriculture has ignored the whole urban side for too long,” Sutton said in the article. “I want to bring us together; say, how can we co-exist, and how can we help each other?”
Residents interested in getting involved, whether as a traditional farmer, a home gardener, or a supporter of local agriculture, can learn more about LCFB membership and volunteering and upcoming events, including Evening on the Farm at Kleine Dairy Farm.
About Lake County Farm Bureau
Lake County Farm Bureau, Inc. is a nonprofit membership organization that has represented the agricultural heartbeat of Lake County since 1945. A proud affiliate of the Indiana Farm Bureau, LCFB works to support, educate, and advocate for farmers and rural communities across Northwest Indiana, connecting local farmers, families, and advocates while promoting the power and importance of agriculture in Lake County. Learn more at lcfbin.org.
About The Times of Northwest Indiana
The Times of Northwest Indiana, owned by Lee Enterprises, is the news and information leader in Northwest Indiana and the region’s largest daily newspaper, headquartered in Munster, Indiana. Founded in 1906, The Times maintains bureaus in Crown Point, Valparaiso, and Portage in addition to its Munster headquarters, along with a statehouse correspondent in Indianapolis. The Times covers public safety, government, business, and human-interest issues throughout Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties through its daily newspaper, website (nwitimes.com), mobile apps, and e-edition. Learn more at nwitimes.com.
