The Adams County that I grew up in was a lot more rural community than the Adams County that exists today. While I welcome new development, I also want to ensure that we never forget where we came from. At a time when Trump's tariffs are causing chaos and the planet is warming due to carbon pollution, we owe it to our kids to protect and expand food production, shorten supply chains, and diversify farm ownership. Splendid Valley and similar projects present a unique opportunity for Adams County to become a hub of local and sustainable agriculture, as well as mixed-use development that combines the best of urban and rural living. As a County Commissioner, I will fight to protect this legacy and build on this innovation by pursuing the following policies:

• Revisit planning and development standards to fight corporate consolidation, protect family farms from industrial pollution and fracking, and promote innovations in agriculture and irrigation that prepare our community for new climate realities.

• Promote farmers' markets and deals with local grocery chains to sell Adams County produce in Adams County, incentivize business that shortens supply chains and improves food security.

• Invest county resources in combatting invasive species before they become established, making our farmland resistant to brushfires, and holding water-intensive industries to the same high standards we hold our farms and families.