There's a contest in Ohio to win a 43 acre farm. Does it sound legitimate?

According to a local news station:
An Ohio couple created their own contest and are giving away their farm to the winner.

In a 50+ word essay, you must answer the question 'Would you like to own a 43.5 acre farm in Colebrook Township, Ashtabula, Ohio?'

The essay must come with a $100 certified check or money order non-refundable entrance fee. A third party will read and pick the winning essay. Their decision is final. The contest ends once 3,000 essays are received. Essay winner is responsible for all costs dealing with ownership and tax transfers, and will be notified within two weeks of the judge's decision and will take possession of the property and home 60 days after the transfer of the title and deed.

The Ashtabula County Sheriff's office checked with the couple's lawyer and the Internal Revenue Service and said the contest is legal.
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So do you think it's worth entering, or are the owners hoping to get just 2999 entries so they can keep the farm and $299,900?
sounds legit to me. why would they be that greedy, plus, you could sue.
If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
If they ask for money up front don't give it to them no does not sound legit but then that's your money if it were me no way i work to hard for mine and do not just give it away to anybody...
Well, itsounds good but since i basically live in the woods in FL then i might not know much

but if a lot of land is not owned in Ohio then i would go ahead and try to get that instead of buying it from a contest
I wouldn't enter any contest that requires money to enter. Even soda cap contests and things like that don't require any purchase. All you have to do is visit a website or send an envelope in order to be entered into the contest. Don't enter this contest.
Nothing wrong with it you just have a 2999 to 1 chance that you wasted 100 bucks.


Answer:
They probably could be sued for not following through.

This kind of thing has been done before. Since it's been made so public I would doubt they would try to to cheat anyone.