Over the course of nearly 20 years, Western Reserve Land Conservancy has partnered with three Northern Ohio farm families—the Thompson family, the Miller family, and the Bumb family—to protect a combined total of over 12,000 acres through conservation easements, ensuring that Ohio will continue to have flourishing farmland for generations to come.
Agriculture directly shapes communities throughout much of our region; as Ohio’s number one industry, agriculture employs one in eight Ohioans and accounts for more than $124 billion to Ohio’s economy. While rural communities throughout the state face changes and development, the work of prominent families like the Thompsons, Millers, and Bumbs is crucial to protecting this way of life and providing for the region. In addition to the significant acreage protected by these three families, their trusting relationships in the farming communities have resulted in thousands more acres of preserved farmland by others who have followed their lead.
In total, the Thompson family has protected an impressive 5,000-plus acres of farmland. Dick and Chad Thompson, father and son, have granted 36 conservation easements to the Land Conservancy since their first 268-acre easement in 2008. The conservation easements are primarily in Ashtabula and Trumbull Counties, with a few in Mercer County, Western Pennsylvania. The Thompsons will be lining up more farmland to preserve in the coming years.
W.I. Miller and Sons is a 5th generation grain farm owned by Robert, Rusty, Dean, and Ben Miller. The family operates a diversified agriculture business that includes small grain seed production, implement leasing, and fertilizer and herbicide sales, in addition to their row crop operation that focuses on corn, beans, wheat, and oats.
With more than 4,200 acres preserved over 26 properties in Trumbull and Ashtabula Counties, the Millers’ conserved acreage is close behind the Thompsons, their neighbors and friends. The two families’ farms are separated by just a few miles, and their combined contributions to farmland preservation are protecting prime soils, the rural heritage, and local economy of northern Trumbull and southern Ashtabula Counties.
Bob and Deb Bumb began working with the Land Conservancy in 2013, preserving approximately 2,200 acres, predominantly in Huron County, in 2013 and 2014. Bob, an 8th generation farmer, and Deb, a 7th generation farmer, followed in the footsteps of Deb’s parents who preserved over 600 acres a couple years prior. Bob and Deb went on to preserve additional farmland in 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025, and already have an additional tract of farmland in the works to preserve in 2026.
In total, Bob and Deb have granted 31 conservation easements on nearly 3,100 acres. The properties are part of a large grain farm operation comprising nearly 9,000 acres of owned and leased land that spans several counties and two states.
The numerous conservation easements placed by these three families don’t just prevent active farms from being developed—they also protect hundreds of acres of natural lands on these properties. Numerous forests, wetlands, and stream corridors have been preserved thanks to the continued dedication of the Thompsons, Millers, and Bumbs.