The Porter County Commissioners have become the latest public officials calling on the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to reopen the Chellberg Farm as a historic working farm.

At the request of dunes supporters Herb and Charlotte Read, the three commissioners on Tuesday passed a resolution describing the farm as culturally, educationally, and historically significant and as an example of the human progression of activities in this region.

The National Lakeshore needs to return the displaced farm animals and historic farming equipment as soon as possible and reopen Chellberg as a living history farm, the resolution says. The commissioners agreed to send the resolution to National Lakeshore Superintendent Constantine Dillon.

All three commissioners expressed dismay that the farm has been shut down.

South Porter County Commissioner Carole Knoblock said that as a former school bus driver, she took many busloads of students to the farm on field trips.

“It need to be put back to what it was,” she said.

“It’s a part of history that should not be shut down,” added North Porter County Commissioner John Evans.

Commissioner President Robert Harper said that the Chellberg Farm has been a popular stop for visitors to the National Lakeshore.

“I can’t believe they shut this down,” he said.

“Neither can we,” responded Charlotte Read, who, along with Herb, attended the commissioners’ meeting.

The Save the Dunes Council, which the Reads were instrumental in forming, has an online petition calling for the reopening of the farm at www.savedunes.org. So far, more than 680 have signed the petition, which has a deadline of August 31.

Other public bodies that have passed similar resolutions in support of Chellberg Farm include the Chesterton Town Council and the Michigan City Council.

The National Lakeshore shut down the farming operations at Chellberg earlier this year after the former farmer retired and was not replaced. The farm animals are now gone, and crops have not been planted.

The National Lakeshore still plans to host its annual Harvest Fest on the grounds on Sept. 19 and 20.