Louis Paz ,13, hangs out at Gil’s Country Store in Neenach, the only commercial enterprise in the unincorporated town in northern Los Angeles County. One of the county’s last rural outposts, the town is next to the site proposed for Centennial, which could become the county’s largest planned community. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
“I’ve probably driven this tractor around the world,” says William R. Barnes, 84, as he plows his land. Barnes is a descendant of one of Neenachs settling families, who homesteaded the area. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Neenach is on California 138 between Gorman and Lancaster. Not far away is the Tejon Ranch, proposed as the future home of Centennial, which would have 23,000 new homes. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
William Barnes takes a break from planting. At 84, the descendant of one of Neenachs settling families still farms every day. (Spener Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
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Barnes plows his field under the big sky of the Antelope Valley. Farming the same land for more than half a century has given him some perspective, Barnes says, on the possibility of development. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Barnes, right, and his son, Reed Barnes,57, left, repair equipment used for planting on the family farm. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Longtime Neenach resident Sigfried Carrle, 76, sells his home-grown produce. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
Neenach resident Sandee Miloszar rides her horse, May, as the sun sets over Neenach in northern Los Angeles County. (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
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Valeria Sophia Cueva, 3, plays with her dog, Carolina, outside Gil’s Country Store, which her family owns. It is the only commercial enterprise in Neenach . (Spencer Weiner / Los Angeles Times)
