After more than a year of researching, communicating and defending their plan to construct a new hog barn in Linn County, a dream has become a reality for one eastern Iowa family. Matt and Melissa Ditch of Center Point recently completed construction of their hog barn.

"This is what he’s always wanted to do is be a farmer," Melissa said of her husband, Matt.

Matt is the third generation in the Ditch family to own and manage the farm. As the assistant vice president of...