A budding industry comes to Thetford Township’s agricultural scene
Farming has long been a staple of Thetford Township’s rural landscape, but new crops are sprouting these days. Commercial cannabis is an increasingly active industry in the community, says Jesse Truitt, the township assessor. The business got a boost when Michigan legalized recreational marijuana in 2018, adding to the state’s existing medical cannabis program. Thetford Township issues permits for commercial cannabis growing in certain zoned areas. However, Truitt adds that “the area accounts for a small range of the township.” Thetford Township is part of Genesee County, where farmers devote tens of thousands of acres to soybeans and corn. Whatever they grow, residents live in a spread-out community where land and seclusion are easy to find, but visiting stores and restaurants requires a little more effort.
Wooded properties to the west and farms to the east
A grid of straight roads divides the land into a series of rectangles. On the west side, ranch-style homes and split-levels line the edges of these rectangles, with wooded lots stretching backward from the homes. Farms are more common on the east end, where rows of crops and horse pastures dominate the rectangular plots of land. More than half of the homes sit on less than 2 acres, but there are dozens of properties with at least 20 acres. Recent home sales have varied from $105,000 to $465,000.
Clio Area Schools gets funds to upgrade campuses
Kindergartners through third graders can go to Clio Elementary, and Clio Intermediate teaches fourth and fifth graders. Niche gives both schools B-minus grades, while Clio Middle and Clio High each receive a C-plus. Voters approved an $8.7 million bond project in 2024 that will enable Clio Area Schools to renovate the auditorium at Clio High and update Clio Early Elementary, a campus for prekindergartners. The bond won’t increase property taxes for homeowners in the school district.
The community has public access to Buell Lake
At Buell Lake County Park, a fishing pier and boat ramp lead to Buell Lake. Parkgoers can play disc golf along the lakefront and, in the winter, ride snowmobiles around the property. A field is dedicated to flying remote-controlled model airplanes. On the west side of the community, members of the public can play 18 holes at Vienna Greens Golf Course. Stables and farms across the region board and train horses while also giving horseback riding lessons.
Stores and restaurants are in neighboring Clio, Vienna Township
One will pass hardly any businesses while driving through the township’s farmland and forests. One exception is Piechnik’s, a greenhouse carrying plants, garden supplies and home décor. For shopping and dining, locals typically head west to Clio or Vienna Township, Truitt says. Bar patrons catch live music at The Pine Run Inn, and Andy’s Country Chef serves breakfast all day. Clio is also home to VG’s Grocery, and there’s a Walmart west of the city in Vienna Township.
Nearby I-75 routes to Flint, Detroit
People rely on cars to get around the community, sometimes driving on dirt roads. Less than 5 miles from the township, drivers can get on Interstate 75 and take it 15 miles to Flint. The city is where Thetford Township residents can seek medical treatment at McLaren Flint and book flights from Bishop International Airport. Interstate 75 also extends 80 miles south to Detroit.
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Alex Soderstrom
