Hours of debate end in compromise for milk plant expansion

Fast growing Lincoln County running into urban, agriculture and economic development conflicts

A gravel compromise appears to have sealed the deal.

While the proposed Red Rock Real Estate milk condensing plant sits far from most Sioux Falls metro residents' backyards, a high-stakes hearing on a Tuesday evening in Canton reflects a deeper struggle across Lincoln County: how to balance agricultural expansion and industrial development with the backdrop of a fast-changing county character.

As one of the nation’s fastest-growing, Lincoln County is a flashpoint where economic opportunity, rural identity and neighborly trust often collide.