US missionaries visiting in 1957 encouraged the inhabitants to raise sheep and grow coffee plants.
The king and queen visited the village in 1970 and expressed concern over the level of deforestation and generally low quality of life.
In 1978, on a follow-up visit, the king was shown a small stream called Huai Ba Khi.
The Mae La Noi Royal Project Development Centre was founded in 1980 to introduce highland crops.
The queen helped improve the quality of sheep fleeces by importing breeds better suited to the environment.