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November 14, 2008
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November 14, 2008 |
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Lancaster Farmland Trust Celebrates Twentieth Anniversary
STRASBURG— Lancaster Farmland Trust celebrated 20 years of farmland preservation at the organization’s 20th anniversary gala on November 5th. The reception and dinner at the Eden Resort featured fresh, local foods from Lancaster County farms and businesses. Twenty-two farmers were honored for preserving their farms with the Trust within the past year. An annual fundraising event for the Trust, the gala raised over $79,000 from dinner and quilt raffle ticket sales, a silent auction including products from local farms, and a live “Acres for Auction” where a 56-acre farm was “auctioned” off for preservation. Lancaster Farmland Trust’s 2008 award winners are as follows: Darvin Boyd Service to Agriculture Award: H. Eugene Garber Amos Funk Spirit of Cooperation Award: West Lampeter Township Distinguished Benefactor of the Year: J. Melvin Nissley Volunteer of the Year: Garden Spot Village Distinguished Service Award: Retiring Lancaster Farmland Trust board members: Michelle Atwater, N. Alan Bair, John D. Cox, Brendon J. Landis A 56-acre farm in Leacock Township was “auctioned” off for preservation during a live “Acres for Auction.” Dinner attendees and supporters “bid” on the farm in ¼, ½, and 1 acre increments to preserve the local Amish farm. The silent auction, with over 60 items, raised over $6,700. The auction included several items from preserved farms such as a hand-crafted oak corner cabinet, a set of four hardwood kitchen canisters, and emu bologna and oil. Karen Martynick, Executive Director of the Trust, thanked Ambassador Marilyn Ware (retired) and Amos Funk, known as the father of farmland preservation, for their vision, wisdom, and commitment when they started the organization 20 years ago. “With no money, no farms, and nowhere to call home, they fearlessly went about creating what is now Lancaster Farmland Trust,” Martynick explained. “Amos and Marilyn both say that they had no idea how many farms would be preserved through this effort, they just believed something needed to be done and they were impatient to do it. I am also grateful to the over 3,000 business and individual donors who understand the importance of farmland preservation to our local community and continue to support us with their money, time, and talents,” Martynick continued. Today, Lancaster Farmland Trust has preserved 308 farms and saved over 19,400 acres of Lancaster County farmland. |
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