Man fails parents’ farming condition, loses $100-an-acre land

A North Dakota man has lost his claim to buy his parents' farmland for $100 an acre after the state Supreme Court ruled that he failed to meet a condition set out in their wills. The parents had offered their son, Todd Stramer, the option to purchase the remaining farmland at the fixed price if he returned to North Dakota and actively farmed it. According to the ruling dated Friday, the court upheld the finding that Todd had not fulfilled this condition.

It also ordered a lower court to reconsider damages for his use of the farmland between 2023 and 2025.The dispute began after William and Elaine Stramer made their wills in July 2013. The couple had five children, Todd, Ann, Douglas, Steve and Matthew. Their wills gave Todd the option to buy the remaining farmland for $100 an acre.

However, he had to move back to North Dakota and actively farm the property.