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FARMING IN THE SHADOW OF SPRAWL: A Four Part Series

By Chris Lehman

Wheeling, IL – The Chicago suburbs continue to sprawl westward, forcing many farmers to either adapt, move, or find a new line of business. WNIJ examines the issues behind these difficult decisions by talking with farm families who found themselves surrounded by subdivisions instead of cornfields.

The Horcher family has farmed in northern Cook County for more than a century. Faced with the challenges of explosive population growth, they are finding success by offering something different to their neighbors.