Farming was the life and survival of early Wake County. As early settlers entered and settled the land that is now Wake County, farming became the chief occupation in the area once shelter was secured. Today, we see our farms disappearing at an alarming rate. According to county officials Wake lost 20% of its farmland in the last 9 years. At the current rate all unprotected lands will be developed in the next 25-50 years. An ordinance called the Farmland Preservation Program aims to conserve Wake County’s nearly 700 farms and help combat North Carolina’s disappointing ranking as the second highest state in the nation for farmland loss .  While we as genealogists can not effect much change in the face of this sweeping progress, we can do what we do best.  We can shine a light on the local heritage farms that remain; recognize and write about their important place in our history and survival; and drop the names of the farms and their stewards so that current and future res...