Welcome to Skagit County

July 30th, 2004

Commissioner Don Munks, Congressman Rick Larsen, Farmland Legacy Director Allison Deets, Dan Miller, and Commissioner Ken Dahlstedt participated in the unveiling of the first "Private Property, Public Legacy" signs on the Dan Miller Farm.

Elected leaders laud Miller’s participation in Farmland Legacy Program

BURLINGTON – Local elected and agricultural leaders joined Congressman Rick Larsen and area farmer Danny Miller today to celebrate the placing of 410 fertile Skagit Valley acres into an agricultural easement through the Farmland Legacy Program. Curtis Johnson, President of Skagit County’s Conservation Futures Advisory Committee served as master of ceremonies, recognizing Larsen for being the first District 2 congressman to serve on the Committee on Agriculture. He also recognized State Senators Mary Margaret Haugen and Harriet Spanel. “These ladies went to bat for Skagit County agriculture “big time. Dave Quall also did yeoman duty.”

Miller, Larsen, and Johnson formally unveiled the first ever Farmland Legacy sign engraved with the slogan, “Private Land, Public Legacy.” The sign is permanently displayed on the farm on Gardner Road, north of Burlington.
Larsen, in his address, said that other members of the Agriculture Committee only ask for income support for the commodities they raise. “I’m glad my farmers don’t want handouts. All they want is be assured they have infrastructure to compete with the farmer down the road and the farmer around the world.”
Commissioner Ken Dahlstedt also spoke stating, “There is a future for agriculture in Skagit County as long as we feel it’s important to preserve farmland.”
Dahlstedt, who also serves as chair of the National Association of Counties Food Safety Committee said that his goal is to make sure every country that ships food to the United States meets our safety standards.
The Skagit County Commissioners established the Farmland Legacy Program in 1996, enabling the use of a Conservation Futures taxing mechanism authorized by the Washington State Legislature for easement purchases. In Skagit County, participating farmland owners receive approximately 1/3 of market value for their property, in exchange for retiring development rights and eliminating the potential for residential development on the property. More than 3,900 acres are now protected.

"This is prime Skagit Valley farmland in the path of development. We greatly appreciate the Millers' and the Nelsons' commitment to agriculture in Skagit County," said Allison Deets, Farmland Legacy Program Director. A portion of the property is jointly owned by Dan Miller and Norm Nelson, Jr. and Jim Nelson.