Jack Kain – a self-made successful businessman, owner of Jack Kain Ford, and a subdivision developer. He believes that a community must grow to thrive and that the “save the landers” are the “haves” who want to maintain their elite position and their unique quality of life by keeping out the “have nots...”

Ann Richmond – co-owner of an historic family farm and an outspoken opponent of continued residential growth in Woodford County. She believes that land is something you “hold in trust for our children, it’s something we have to improve, that we feel like we need to protect and improve and pass on to them...”

Charles Baker – at the beginning of the story a young farmer struggling to make a living for his family. His solution is to purchase a large farm and to sell off small parcels for residences and use the income from these sales to pay down the debt on the farm. He believes that no one has a right to tell him what he can do with his land, especially the “land barons”...

Libby Jones – a horse farm owner, wife of a former governor, and land preservation activist. Her horse farm has been in her family for seven generations – since 1790. She believes that this is some of the most productive soils in the world and that “the land does not belong to us; it belongs to the community, to the world...

Jim Boggs – a self-professed “refugee” from corporate America who came to Woodford County to make a living operating a diversified farm raising sheep and vegetables. He sees development as “interfering with my livelihood...”