The McKown family’s farm has grown from a neglected parcel into a 500‑acre conservation model, thanks to a 1988 purchase by lawyer Neil McKown.
The 1980s were a stressful era for the Ohio attorney; after long hours in court and constant client requests, he sought solitude on the family’s seven‑acre suburban homestead. “I needed to be by myself, without the computer, email, phone or people,” McKown told Farm Progress editor Jennifer Kiel, explaining why the land in Shelby felt like a breath of fresh air.
The original 155 acres offered 80 tillable miles and a forest of overgrown trees. The family turned the work into Saturday “forced fun,” clearing grapevines with a conservation district cost‑share program and building fire pits for the children. Their efforts paid off; after five years of digging a ditch that connected to an existing drainage system, they laid tile drains and planted 30‑foot grass buffers that now protect the lake basin’s water quality.
In 2024, the McKowns received the Ohio Conservation Farm Family Award from Farm Progress for their soil‑health practices, water‑management work, and stewardship of the woods. The award, a first for the family, highlights the farm’s shift from a chaotic start to a sustainable operation that produces row crops, hay, and 15 head of beef cattle.
Sam McKown, now 43, inherited the day‑to‑day farm life and has already bought 130 acres near Ontario, Ohio, where he grows alfalfa and row crops. He also placed 40 acres into a 15‑year Conservation Reserve Program reforestation effort. “I think farmers get a bad rap,” he told Farm Progress, adding that the family balances profit with environmental responsibility.
The next chapter involves expanding the farm’s acreage and conservation footprint. By 2026, the McKowns plan to add 130 acres of new farmland near Ontario and secure 40 acres for a long‑term reforestation program, continuing the legacy that began with a quiet purchase in 1988.