A historic New Jersey farm is now at the center of a battle between local power and private property rights, as Cranbury Township officials move to seize the land for an affordable housing development. The move has triggered a wave of backlash—from grassroots residents to Trump administration officials.
The 21-acre Henry family farm, founded in 1850 and passed down through generations, faces partial seizure under the township’s new housing expansion plan. According to Andy Henry, who co-owns the property with his brother Christopher, the town initially notified them in April of plans to take the entire farm. After pushback, officials now say they’ll only seize half—though that would still cripple their operation.
“That would leave us with a non-viable farm for at least 40 cows and many sheep,” Henry explained on “Fox & Friends.” He called the attempt to take the land “a shock” and said his family has turned down developers for years in order to preserve the farm’s legacy.
“We just wanted to be left alone and take care of our place like my ancestors did before us,” he said, noting how the surrounding area is already choked with warehouses.
The seizure attempt stems from a state mandate requiring New Jersey towns to help build over 146,000 affordable housing units by 2035. In Cranbury’s case, that means invoking eminent domain to forcibly acquire private land—including farmland that predates the Civil War.
The farm, nestled in a town once fed entirely by local agriculture, has become a symbol for those pushing back against what they view as reckless government overreach.
“It’s part of our legacy,” Henry told Ainsley Earhardt. “And I’ve said it’s part of the town of Cranbury, too. It’s a historic farm which helped the town to grow.”
Community support has surged. A GoFundMe campaign created to help cover the Henry family’s legal fees surpassed $100,000 by June 26. But the fight has also drawn national attention—and political firepower.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced earlier this month that the Trump administration is “exploring every legal option” to defend the Henrys and others like them. In a strongly worded statement on X, Rollins vowed, “The Biden-style government takeover of our family farms is over.”
This particular land grab is already being seen as a bellwether for broader legal battles over eminent domain and rural property rights. With farmland disappearing and government mandates multiplying, the Henrys’ story hits a nerve with conservatives who see family farms as a last stand for tradition, self-reliance, and the American dream.
In the eyes of many, the Henrys are doing more than protecting their livelihood—they’re defending a way of life. And with the Trump administration weighing in, this fight is quickly turning from a local zoning dispute into a national rallying cry. The question now: Will Washington bureaucrats get to dictate what happens to land held since the 1800s, or will the courts and the public push back before it’s too late?
