MARION TWP — Almost 100 acres of a farm owned by James Linton was approved last month for state preservation.

The state Farmland Preservation Board spent about $12 million on Aug. 24 to preserve 3,665 acres on 42 farms in the state. Among those farms was Linton's.

Farms on a state waiting list compete for state funds, which pay farmers to attach a distinction to the land's deed prohibiting residential or commercial development.

The board approves farms on the basis of soil quality and the farmer's history of conservation practices.

Linton is transferring his farm to his son, Jeff, who has farmed it with his father for 25 years. Together, they have about 315 acres, Linton said.

"I really want this to stay in farming," he said.

This parcel joins another 100 acres approved for preservation three years ago. Linton said he hopes the entire farm is eventually preserved.

Linton no longer lives on the farm. But his son, who also is a construction worker, has a home there, and grows hay and raises beef there.

"Jeff has a son and a daughter, and I hope they will continue farming that land," said Linton.

Linton's farm is the 29th farm in the county to be added to the preservation program, said Ron Fodor, county conservation district manager.

He said three or four farms are preserved each year, and about 20 farms each year are put on the waiting list.

"It's a lot of work to get a farm preserved. It's a slow process," Fodor said.