For John Boyer, the 131 acres near East Jordan, Michigan, are more than farmland. The rolling fields of corn, oats and wheat were once part of his family’s property, but over the decades, the land changed hands and eventually left the family. Years later, Boyer made an unusual decision: he bought it back.
But owning the land was only part of his plan. In 2026, the Michigan farmer took another step to protect the property, selling its future development rights through a conservation easement. The move means the 131 acres cannot be divided and developed for housing or commercial purposes, even if the property changes owners in the future.
