The Journal.

Can a Farming Community Resist a Development Boom?

65 snips
Aug 22, 2025
A sudden death leaves a rural Tennessee community grappling with a clash of values between growth and tradition. Farmers find themselves divided over the future of their land, facing the harsh realities of urban expansion. Personal stories reveal the emotional stakes behind the fight to preserve farmland amid a push for development. As local regulations loom large, residents navigate the complexities of community identity and agricultural heritage, all while confronting the pressing need for balancing economic growth with the preservation of their way of life.
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INSIGHT

Rural County Between Booms

  • Coffee County sits between booming cities and quiet farmland, making it a flashpoint for growth pressures.
  • Mayor Judd Matheny pushed pro-development policies to capture jobs and tax revenue before his death halted momentum.
INSIGHT

Mega Sites Drive Development Strategy

  • Matheny targeted industrial 'mega sites' to attract large manufacturers and high-paying jobs.
  • He sought to redefine agricultural land designations to enable subdivisions and commercial growth.
ANECDOTE

A Farmer's Lifelong Bond

  • Sean Jones describes his 500-acre farm with corn, soybeans, hay, and cattle and calls it 'God's country.'
  • He says farming is his lifelong calling and his family's multigenerational legacy on the land.
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