Think about Jay County's future

To the editor:

One more letter won’t make a difference, right?

Like me, many of you reading this may live in town. You may even share a similar response to the confined feeding operation (CFO) issue, that this doesn’t affect me.  You have good agricultural friends who deserve to make a living like everyone else.

You also have good friends who talk about flies, who don’t open windows on days the wind is blowing from a certain direction and can’t hang their laundry out anymore. You may even have a family member with four turkey barns down the road, but it’s a quarter-mile to the southeast and hog barn is a half-mile to the southeast and the wind doesn’t blow from that direction very often so it’s not a dinner table discussion.

You’ve read all the articles in this newspaper about CFOs in Jay County, discussed the situation at the coffee shop and learned more from folks who served on the special commission. And yes, you’ve already read every letter to the editor about this topic. You have sympathy for everyone, but, it doesn’t really touch you because you live in town.

To my shame, it has taken me years to write this letter. But, two weeks ago it hit me —I need to do something. That’s when I gained empathy at lunch with two very good friends and saw tears across the table while I learned that a daughter and family who lived within shouting distance from them were moving to town after almost 10 years in their home. I learned my friend no longer embraces, but fears the future, and the idea of spending retirement at their home of almost 30 years. A home they love.

Why?

People in their neighborhood received a letter about two new hog barns to be located within a half-mile of their property.

Many of our Jay County neighbors already have CFOs in their neighborhood, right? Well, my friend already has a total of 12 hog barns located within 1.5 miles of their property. Once construction is completed, my friend’s home will have a grand total of 14 hog barns on three sides of their home all within 1.5 miles and it won’t matter which way the wind is blowing.

Hard to imagine? To see this more clearly, pick up a pencil and draw a picture imagining it is your home in the midst of 14 hog barns.   

Why did I hesitate to write this letter? Letters about CFO construction in their neighborhood had been sent by others in the past. Letters directed to the commissioners, the CFO owners and Fort Wayne television media have made no difference.

Well, I urge everyone to consider the well-being of their Jay County neighbors. This is our home and we all need to look beyond today to the future. I talked to several people about this situation over the past two weeks and heard comments, including:

•What difference will it make.

•Few new people and former Jay County residents will come here because they won’t build new homes in this polluted area and there are no homes to purchase.

•Are you staying in Jay County after retirement?

They plan to move away after retirement like many other baby boomers, many because of the CFO situation that continues to grow in our county.

I encourage you to look at our population and the school funding issues. Then look at your community volunteers today and ask yourself who will continue to strengthen our communities.

Where will Jay County be five, 10 or even 20 years from now if we continue on the same path and don’t know when to say “stop.” Enough is enough.

Best regards,

Jeanna Ford

Portland