Bartelt Family Farm: Progress is Building a Better Life 

Passed down through generations, Thomas Bartelt’s family farm has symbolized resilience, hard work, and a deep connection to Indiana’s prime farmland. Dating back to the 1800s, this farm has stood the test of time and has even received multiple awards recognizing its heritage. What began as two families joined through marriage became a legacy built through dedication and perseverance. 

This land is more than farmland. It represents generations of commitment, sacrifice, and a way of life rooted in care for the land and family. 

Today, that legacy is under threat. 

The proposed Mid States Corridor Project would cut diagonally through the Bartelt family farm, resulting in the loss of a significant portion of their land. Every drainage field would be disrupted, and the property would be divided in a way that makes it extremely difficult to continue farming. What remains would no longer function as it has for generations. 

Not only is the land at risk, but Thomas’s mother, who has lived on this property for approximately 70 years, faces the possibility of losing her home. This family’s roots are deeply tied to this land, and they are doing everything they can to protect what has been built over generations. 

Unfortunately, the Bartelt family’s story is not unique. Across the region, hundreds of families face similar threats, raising serious concerns about the broader impact of projects like this on communities and livelihoods. 

For families like the Bartelts, this is not just a disruption. It is the forced taking, the quiet theft of years of labor and generational legacy, leaving families to watch what they have built be dismantled. 

We encourage you to watch this family’s story and see what is at risk of being lost.