Farmland Forever - The Pierson Family Story
“With an ever growing world population, we have to be careful about protecting what farmland we have left. Gone are the days of developing over productive farmland thinking that it can be replaced with new farmland somewhere else. There is no somewhere else to go”
From the moment Interstate 5 cut through the Pierson family’s 600-acre farm and homestead in the early 1960s, everyone from developers to golf course builders have sought after the highly desirable piece of farmland for anything but farming.
The pressure came to a head 30 years ago, when a well-known developer, purchased an option to buy the land from the family, and proposed plans to build a 280-acre agricultural-themed amusement park and development there. When word got out to other farmers and the greater Skagit Valley community, the backlash was swift and fierce.
“My dad and uncle didn’t see the backlash coming,” David Pierson, the family’s representative said during a recent interview in his home, which looks out over the large farm. “It shocked them a little bit.”
At the time, David Pierson was in his 30s. He was against the idea of selling his family farm for development, but didn’t have the same say as some of the older members of his family running the farm at the time. Trillium was a well-known developer from Bellingham, responsible for, among other things, the Semiahmoo Resort in rural Whatcom County in 1987, and the Bellis Fair Mall on Bellingham’s outskirts, in 1988.
A broad coalition of farmers and community members quickly organized against the Trillium project, recognizing that such a large piece of land taken out of farming would start to dismantle the critical mass of land and infrastructure necessary to keep agriculture viable in the Skagit.
The controversy caught national attention, including the New York Times, and was the genesis of Skagitonians To Preserve Farmland.
Eventually, Trillium wanted to exercise its option, and go through with the purchase of the property. But David Pierson knew it wasn’t what he wanted for his family’s land. He walked into Trillium’s Bellingham office and said: “No, we’re not doing it,” he recalled. Pierson had no lawyer with him, and knew he had to give up something for backing out of the deal. He offered the developer a right of first refusal, which still clouds the title to this day.
“I’m the last one and I’m ok with that. I know it’s going to be farmed. I don’t know who will be farming it, but it’s going to be farmland forever.”
Having the threat of development over the property played a large role in Pierson wanting to keep the land in agriculture. Now, 30 years later, he finally has closure on the issue, by placing 285.7 acres and seven development rights into the Skagit County Farmland Legacy Program.
Pierson has been working with both Skagit County and Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland for six years to complete the transaction. Both public money earmarked for farmland preservation and private funds obtained by Skagitonians To Preserve Farmland were used to put the land into the program.
“We’ve gone 180 degrees from where we were 30 years ago,” Pierson said.
Pierson looked out his large living room window across the huge field of Brussels Sprouts growing on his land. The acreage is now being farmed by Skagit Valley Farm, a large operation that sells its crops to Costco, among other national companies.
Pierson’s house was built in the 60s after Interstate 5 forced their family out of the home where the freeway is now. His family sold the remaining small sliver of land on the east side of the Interstate early on, and he watched as it developed into gas stations, Starbucks, a marijuana shop and a bikini barista stand, among other commercial enterprises. Strangers continue to approach him with “grand” ideas for the land on his side of the Interstate, but he’s determined to hold the line.
“This chases that away,” he said. “We’ve stopped the sprawl of commercial development on the wrong side of the road. That’s not what this land is for. I’m never going to have to worry about looking out my window at condos and Mini Marts. It’s not going to happen.”
“Preserving these unparalleled silt and sandy loams promotes food security for the region while focusing development away from working lands in perpetuity. The partnership between Skagit County, the Pierson family, and SPF allowed for this crowning achievement in farmland preservation”
County officials are also happy to finally have the huge and central piece of land preserved in perpetuity.
“The stark contrast between Dave’s side of the Cook Road interchange and the developed side of the interchange serves as an immediate and obvious illustration to the importance of preserving soil for future generations,” said Kara Symonds, Skagit County’s Farmland Legacy Program Coordinator. “Preserving these unparalleled silt and sandy loams promotes food security for the region while focusing development away from working lands in perpetuity. The partnership between Skagit County, the Pierson family, and SPF allowed for this crowning achievement in farmland preservation.”
Skagit County Commissioner and longtime dairy farmer, Ron Wesen, remembers the Pierson land controversy well.
“This is just one of the properties that has been a hallmark to protect,” Wesen said. “Finally, we got it.”
Boundaries for reference only.
Source: Skagit County iMap. Boundaries for reference only.
While Pierson understands that housing is needed, food is also needed to feed all those people. His farm has grown dozens and dozens of crops, including seed crops that then went on to grow food around the world.
Skagit County’s farmland is some of the most fertile in the world. Its unique soil type and climate make it vital to protect and continue farming, he said.
“Many people take food for granted and don’t realize that agriculture is essential for human and cultural survival,” Pierson said. “With an ever growing world population, we have to be careful about protecting what farmland we have left. Gone are the days of developing over productive farmland thinking that it can be replaced with new farmland somewhere else. There is no somewhere else to go.”
Pierson said he’s the last person in his generation to keep the farm going. Other family members love the farm and are happy about its preservation but aren’t interested in carrying on the family farming business. Placing the farmland into the Farmland Legacy Program IS their legacy.
“I’m the last one and I’m ok with that,” Pierson said. “I know it’s going to be farmed. I don’t know who will be farming it, but it’s going to be farmland forever.”
By Tahlia Honea: info@skagitonians.org
Note from the Executive Director:
In many ways, preserving this farmland has been 32-years in the making: From the SPF founders, board members, former SPF executive directors Lisa Nielsen and Bob Rose, and the thousands of supporters - whose belief in preserving farmland has never wavered.
Bob Hart, SPF President from 2008 to 2012 was one of two County Commissioners in 1996 responsible for creating what has now become one of the most successful farmland preservation programs in the State. Since its inception, the Farmland Legacy Program has protected over 11,000 acres of prime farmland in Skagit County. You can see a map of the prime farmland protected here.
If you are interested in learning more about Skagit County's Farmland Legacy Program you can visit their website or download an application form here.
Please consider supporting SPF's ongoing farmland preservation efforts by making a donation or becoming a member today!