Part of Bedner Family Against Sale of Farm

David Rostron, 56, has spent his life taking care of Bedner's Farm in . He helped out the owner of the land, his uncle Robert Bender, who died nearly four years ago.

Last night (Monday), David saw the first step in the end of Bedner's Farm.

Upper St. Clair commissioners voted Monday night to approve . Since it was approved, Heartland Homes and J.T. Thomas will own the land—no longer the Bedner family.

"I've lost a lot of sleep. I grew up there. Been there all my life," David said.

Robert Bedner's wife, Anna Rose, owns the majority of the land, according to David, and is working to sell the property to Heartland Homes.

Anna Rose told Upper St. Clair Patch she's lived on the farm for 39 years and that the sale will be bittersweet. The farm has provided her with many good memories, but she said she's just too old to take care of the property.

"I'm up in age. And we had no children," she said.

David said he would like to continue to farm the land. He said his aunt's attorney told him he had to stop on March 1.

"It's all about the money," David said. "I'm totally against the sale of this farm."

"We're all against it," said Richard Rostron, David's father. He's married to Ruth Rostron, Robert Bedner's sister.

"If (Robert Bedner) knew what was going on, he'd be rolling over in his grave," David said.

"He's been rolling in his grave so much, his clothes are probably worn out," Richard said. "He had offers. Bigger money. He never would sell."

Anna Rose doesn't disagree, "(Robert Bedner) wanted to hold onto it as long as he could. He just didn't make it.

"He lived for it (the farm). He didn't care how much work he had. He would go back out at night. He'd change his shoes like he thought it'd give him extra strength."

Regardless of the pending sale of Bedner's Farm, David and Richard plan to keep on Bower Hill Road open. Because the neighborhood would be built in three phases, David said he was told he might be able to use part of the land to farm for a while. He also has some property in Mercer County that he may be able to use.

What are your feelings on the sale of Bedner's Farm? Tell us in the comments.