John Thomas of Thomas Farms runs one of the bigger operations in the county. His is a fourth-generation farm of more than 2,000 acres. Thomas Farms includes a large cow-calf herd, a haying operation, 120 acres of watermelons, irrigated corn and peanuts. John is feeling the pressure from the smaller, hobby farms popping up all around him. They've already impacted the way he hunts (neighbors are nervous about gun fire). Because of development pressure from nearby Gainesville land prices are rising sharply, to $7,000 and $10,000 an acre. That may not be a bad problem if you're looking to sell. But for John, who wants to farm, it makes expansion impossible. PHOTO: ANNA MAZUREK