Vicky and Tommy Porter walk with their dogs Roxie, Toby and Molly on their 570-acre farm in Cabarrus County. In an effort to preserve farmland, Cabarrus County created the state's first voluntary agricultural district, a way to help farms coexist with new housing developments. Tommy and Vicky Porter, leaders in the local farm community, have also applied to the state to sell development rights to 125 acres of their 570-acre farm, which would prevent development but keep the land in the family. They've got about 6,400 chickens, 2,200 sows and 420 cattle. (John D. Simmons - jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com)
