Agriculture has deep roots in Knox County.
In fact, this used to be one of the largest sheep producing counties in the country, and in the early 1900s it was known as the sheep capital of America.
Over time, however, Knox County – like much of the rest of Ohio and our country – has seen declines in some types of agricultural production.
But that doesn’t mean farming isn’t vital to our economy and can’t experience strategic and innovative growth to maintain the agricultural heritage of Knox County, boost the local agricultural economy, and provide jobs.
We’re proud to be relatively young farmers within an aging but indispensable profession, and to be carrying on the tradition of working with land, soil, and livestock.
Farmers today, especially young and emerging farmers like us, struggle with land access as one of the biggest hurdles to having a livestock business.
This is where strategic and innovative growth comes in. We are fortunate to have Frasier Solar, a proposed utility-scale solar project, aiming to come to Knox County.
Not only will it create construction jobs and generate millions of dollars in revenue for local schools and local services, but it will support agriculture and create jobs for local farmers.
Frasier Solar is committed to dual solar-agricultural land use.
Our Knox County-based sheep grazing company, New Slate Land Management, has been working closely with Frasier Solar to develop a plan to allow for a sheep grazing operation within the project area.
Earlier this month, we signed an agreement to provide the sheep to manage the vegetation at the 840-acre site.
About 2,500 head of sheep will eventually be needed, which will make this one of the largest sheep grazing operations in Ohio.
Frasier Solar has agreed to plant robust ground vegetation for erosion control and stormwater management benefits, and to preserve the soil for cultivation – but it will also serve as pasture and a food source for our sheep.
We are excited about what “solar grazing” can mean for Ohio’s and Knox County’s agricultural output.
Currently, the U.S. imports about 70% of the lamb consumed here as domestic production has declined.
This means money and jobs that could stay in our local communities are lost to foreign competition.
Dual land use solar projects like Frasier will significantly contribute to the growth of the sheep industry in Ohio and across the U.S.
Frasier Solar’s dedication to working with agriculture presents a huge opportunity that we would not otherwise have in Knox County.
The jobs and agricultural production that sheep grazing at Frasier will generate would be a wonderful boost to the local economy.
The reality is, land has become too expensive for most young farmers to get into the business, and as land values continue to rise, the opportunities to get paid to maintain ground are fewer and further between.
Part of the reason for local land value increases is the growth of Central Ohio and Columbus. Columbus recently became the fastest growing city in the U.S.
This is already driving development and growth in our county, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Urban sprawl creates significant competition for land access – and low-density housing development is one of our main competitors.
As an alternative to real estate development, dual-use solar and agriculture like we’ll have at Frasier allows the farmland to be preserved now and for future generations.
The bottom line is – sheep grazing at Frasier Solar will foster a symbiotic relationship that supports local farming, jobs, and land preservation, as well as clean, local, and low-cost energy production.
Brad Carothers, Director of Operations at New Slate Land Management
Katie Carothers, Sheep Flock Manager at New Slate Land Management
Camren Maierle, Director of Flock and Forage Management
Mount Vernon, Ohio