An Agricultural Treasure
For generations, the Skagit Valley has been recognized as one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. More than 90 commercial crops are grown here, along with livestock and dairy. Skagit County is the most productive county in the United States for flower bulb cultivation and is a major supplier of vegetable seeds shipped worldwide.
Yet this remarkable landscape sits between two growing metropolitan regions—Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.—and has long faced increasing pressure from population growth, development, and unfavorable regulations. While more than 150,000 acres were farmed in the 1940s, fewer than 90,000 acres remain in cultivation today.
Taking a Stand
The effort to protect this irreplaceable farmland came to a turning point in 1989, when a proposal to develop a 280-acre theme park, known as Hollyhock Farms, sparked community action to save this prime farmland. In response, five local farm families came together to form Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland (SPF), united by a shared commitment to safeguarding the future of agriculture in Skagit County.
In its earliest days, SPF was a true grassroots effort, with board members digging into their own pockets and literally tossing $20 bills on the table to cover basic expenses. One of the organization’s first major successes was advocating for the adoption of Skagit County’s Right to Farm Ordinance in 1991(Right To Farm ordnance PDF), helping protect farmers from nuisance complaints and pressure from non-farmer neighbors living on ag land.
Protecting Farmland as a Community
From the beginning, SPF understood that lasting farmland protection depends on strong community support. A 1996 countywide survey confirmed that voters overwhelmingly valued farmland preservation, even supporting increased property taxes to fund it. This momentum led to the creation of the Skagit County Farmland Legacy Program in 1997, a nationally recognized initiative that has since protected more than 15,000 acres of farmland.
Since 2008, SPF has partnered with the Farmland Legacy Program and donors all across the country to protect priority farmland areas, including more than 361 acres south of Mount Vernon. Together, these efforts have raised over $1.5 million to protect more than 510 acres along the I-5 and SR 20 corridors, including nearly $700,000 contributed by SPF donors. By leveraging private contributions in addition to Farmland Legacy Program funding and state and federal grants, SPF continues to expand its impact and protect critical farmland.
Over the past three decades, SPF has grown from a small group of 32 founding members into a broad coalition of more than 1,800 individuals, organizations, and businesses. Today, it remains a vital force in protecting Skagit County’s agricultural land base and economy, working to ensure that farming not only survives, but thrives for generations to come.
This map shows farmland that has been permanently protected from future development through conservation easement, preventing land from being used for something other than farming. This farmland was conserved through tremendous collaboration: between the property owner, the donors to Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, Skagit County’s Farmland Legacy Program, and many other organizations. Many thanks to all who value farmland, our most precious resource.