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The Madison County Farm Bureau has taken an active role in keeping a 5,000-acre tract north of London as farmland. For a few years, Farm Bureau and other organizations have worked to keep out a proposed wildlife refuge along the Little Darby Creek. Several acres along the creek have been bought by the Nature Conservancy; the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has also purchased acreage along the creek. Many of those farms, where corn, soybeans, pumpkins and hay were once grown, will soon be covered in trees. Supporters of the refuge are concerned about urban sprawl and want to protect the creeks and rivers.

Farmers and others in the area won support from members of the Ohio congressional delegation to stop the development of the refuge. Many landowners in the county placed signs in their yards and fields sending the message to all who passed that they were not in favor of the refuge. Farmers would like the land-use decisions to be left to the landowners, not the federal government or other entities.

Many farmers in the area are also concerned about urban sprawl and hope to keep the land in agriculture. Many of the farmers believe the creeks and rivers are well taken care of and not endangered by farming activities.

"Farmers are very conservation-minded. Our farming practices are not harming the water supply in the county," according to Jason Dagger, organization director for Champaign, Clark and Madison counties. "It is important for the economy and our livelihoods that the farmland in our county stays in agriculture."

The 5,000-acre Orleton Farms was recently purchased by Vebra-Hoff Dairy Development, which owns large dairies in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Many supporters of the refuge are worried about odors, insect infestations and manure spills.

"These concerns are valid, but the Vebra-Hoff Dairies are well-respected and well-managed farms. With new livestock regulations, the water supply in the county will remain safe," Dagger said. "Vebra-Hoff is not sure when or if they will put dairy cows on the land, but 5,000 acres gives them more than enough room."

Dagger also said having a large dairy farm may help the grain farmers in the area. It may raise the corn base and offer the farmers low-input nutrients.

"I think we’re working for everyone’s best interest. We have many of the same concerns as the supporters of the refuge; we just have different answers," Dagger said.