From the Director

This year Lancaster Farmland Trust marks a milestone as an organization – the celebration of our 20th year as a leader in farmland preservation. From the Trust’s beginning in 1988, we have strived to be an organization dedicated to agriculture as a way of life and committed to preservation of our natural resources for future generations. As part of this yearlong celebration we will take time to honor the contributions of the original founders of the Trust, key contributors, and of course, the farmers who have made the commitment to preserve their land.

This past year the Trust had the most successful year ever in its history, preserving 35 farms and 2,252 acres, and exceeding our goal by 252 acres! Thank you to the farmers for making the commitment to save their land and to all the individuals, businesses, and foundations who supported our efforts. I am also grateful to the local community for their ongoing dedication to preserving the special way of life that we all enjoy in Lancaster County.

In 2008, we look ahead to another prosperous year for farmland preservation. We will continue to push forward with our preservation efforts and also work to promote environmental stewardship among owners of  Trust preserved farms. Our goal is to meet the 20,000 acre mark, which means we need to preserve 2,000 acres or about 30 farms this year.

In addition, the new Smart Farms program will allow the Trust to work one-on-one with landowners to assist them in deciding how to best care for their land and its valuable natural resources. It is an agricultural and environmentally conscious program that assists local farmers in managing sustainable operations.

This year, the Trust also welcomes four new members to its Board of Trustees. They offer a variety of experiences, talents, and skills to the organization’s leadership, and I am confident that they will help us make 2008 another year to remember in farmland preservation. With your help and continued support, I am sure we will be successful.

Cordially,
Karen Martynick