The Farm is saved.

Sources say The Department of Homeland Security will now not go forward with its plan to expand the border crossing in Franklin, Vermont that the Rainville family said would have endangered its farm.

 “It’s exciting,” says family farm owner Brian Rainville, whose battle with the federal government was the focus of a Fox News “It’s Your Land” story two weeks ago. “My family is just incredibly pleased and we are encouraged that the Department of Homeland Security was willing to review the project and make a sound fiscal decision,” he told Fox News.

 The farm, on which the family has raised dairy cows since the 1940’s, sits next to the border crossing with Canada. There is an old border crossing office that dates back to the 1930’s, which the government wanted to expand by almost 5 acres. The Rainvilles insisted that plan would have put them out of business, and spoke out against it. They said  the lightly used crossing handles about 40 cars a day, or a total of only 2 and a half per hour.

 The agency scaled back the project further, but in the end it seems the potential land taking was too much. Local residents spoke out against the plan, and Vermont Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy was also against it. He questioned Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about the plan at a  Senate hearing and urged the agency to reconsider.

 Fox News received hundreds of e-mails from viewers across the country who also supported the Rainvilles, and Brian told Fox News that he received upwards of 1,000. He was also trying to answer them all. He was especially touched by the e-mails he received from members of the armed services.

 “There is something about this story that touched people,” he said. “It’s been absolutely amazing.”

 He credited the Senator’s efforts and the public attention for the apparent decision.

 “It was the combination,” said Brian. “The level of public outcry and frankly the manner in which (DHS) was treating American citizens” gave the impetus to the decision.  He is also a High School teacher, who “teaches responsive government,” and says this is a true real life lesson in the power of our democracy.