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Farmer Finds Way To Make Protest Known
When the Iowa Department of Transportation proposed a new highway interchange that would take several acres of Iowa farmer LaVerne Lingren's farm, he came up with an effective new way to protest. He set up a portable sign - the type usually spotted on used car lots - and spelled out his feelings about the new highway d
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Farmer finds way to make protest known AG WORLD Ag World 17-3-19 When the Iowa Department of Transportation proposed a new highway interchange that would take several acres of Iowa farmer LaVerne Lingren's farm, he came up with an effective new way to protest. He set up a portable sign - the type usually spotted on used car lots - and spelled out his feelings about the new highway design - in no uncertain terms.
Highway planners wanted to add two lanes to U.S. Highway 30 which runs by Lingren's farm. They also planned to build an interchange on his farm, but Lingren believed an interchange wasn't necessary.
"The sign gets your attention. People told me they started watching for it," says Lingren, who put up a new message every 2 to 3 weeks. "I put it up because I wanted to raise the level of awareness and sway political pressure and public opinion. A local newspaper published a photo of it.
"I thought the proposed interchange was a poor project from the beginning. I even took out a big ad in a local newspaper showing a birds eye view of the area affected by the interchange and pointing out mistakes made by the DOT planning department."
Lingren bought the 4-ft. high, 8-ft. long sign from a local manufacturer for $450 and chained it to a pair of fenceposts. The sign has a steel frame and translucent fiberglass facing with room for four lines. Individual letters are 12 in. high. Colored light bulbs flash on and off on top of the sign, and fluorescent lights keep the message visible at night.
Lingren's story has a happy ending. He recently called FARM SHOW to say that the state director of transportation recently recommended that the project be stopped. "A lot of people went to public hearings and also wrote to the commissioner. We also got help from a local state senator. Government still works if enough people get involved," states Lingren.
For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, LaVerne Lingren, 312 - 220th St., Ogden, Iowa 50212 (ph 515 275-2285)."
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