Highlights 2010-11With deep cuts to the New York State Farmland Protection Program budget, fiscal year 2010-11 was a challenge. Fortunately, with help from a very dedicated and generous community of supporters, we were able to keep up the pace of conservation and increase our outreach program to grow our membership and work with new partners. Thank you for your dedicated support, we couldn’t have done it without you!

• Helpedfivelocalfarmfamiliesprotect1,025acresofproductivelandandensureitsavailabilityforfuturegenerations

• Workedwithlandownerstofurther20projectsinprogress,totaling4,032acres.

• Hostedavarietyofeducationalprogramsforchildren,adults,andlandownersdesignedtoforgeaconnectiontothelandswe’vehelpedprotectandfosteranunderstandingoffarming,forestryandlandstewardship.

• Fulfilledourresponsibilitytothecommunityandthelandownerswhohaveprotectedtheirlandbyconductingsitevisitstoeachofthe70propertiesconservedpriorto2010toensurethetermsoftheireasementsarebeingupheld.

Agricultural Stewardship Association

14 Main Street, Suite 100

Greenwich, NY 12834

ph: (518) 692-7285

fx: (518) 692-7720

asa@agstewardship.org

www.agstewardship.org

Braymer Farm, SalemEighty-two year old Evelyn Braymer began plans to conserve her Salem farm in 2004 and with characteristic grit and determination was able to see it through to completion in 2010. Evelyn’s parents started dairying there in 1928 but were forced to sell a year later with the onset of the Great Depression. They rented the land until the end of World War II, when Evelyn and her husband were able to buy it back.

There’s no doubt that Evelyn feels passionately about protecting the land that holds so many family memories. She also inspired her neighbor Bob Beattie

(now deceased) to conserve his 300-acre farm. Both farms lie within a few miles of other protected properties which together comprise 1,233 acres of protected land along County Route 153.

An anonymous donor provided fund-ing to purchase the easement and Evelyn donated a portion of its value in a bargain sale transaction.

Landview Farms, White CreekLandview Farms, LLC is a large dairy farm owned by Roland and Jane Walker, their son Randy Walker, and Mark Anderson. The farm is based in White Creek and rents a number of support lands in the nearby region for crop cultivation.

Two leased properties came up for

Agricultural Stewardship Association

Thank you to the landowners who chose to protect their land in 2010-11. At a time when New York State is losing approximately 9,000 acres of farmland to development each year (that’s one farm every 3 ½ days!), these landowners are ensuring that there will be good land for future generations of farmers. They have truly made a tremendous gift to our community.

Land Conservation

YEAR IN REVIEW 2010-11Protecting Farmland in Washington and Rensselaer Counties

sale but the Walkers were not in a position to purchase them. ASA’s conservation partner, Castanea Foundation, was able to act quickly to acquire them, work with ASA to conserve them and then convey them to Landview Farms at their agricultural value.

The Walkers also donated an easement on land they already owned, resulting in the protection of three properties totaling 287 acres. Randy Walker explains, “Conservation enabled us to purchase land at its agricultural value that we had previously rented. Securing the land our operation depends upon allows us to manage it completely. It also protects our future viability.”

The Hill Farm, Hoosick FallsIn December, ASA partnered with the owners of The Hill Farm to conserve 271 acres of farmland along the Hoosic River. The farm, located outside of the Village of Hoosick Falls, is used for horses as well as hay and pasture by a neighboring sheep farmer. The owners generously donated a conservation easement to protect the agricultural resources of the property as well as the extensive frontage along the Hoosic River.

The 2009 New York State Open Space Conservation Plan lists the protection of the Hoosic River corridor as a priority conservation project given its ecological diversity and the fertile farmland and woodlands along its banks. With the conservation of The Hill Farm, ASA has assisted in the protection of more than 2,000 acres of farmland along the Hoosic River and has a number of other projects in the works!

Mapledale Farm, BerlinThe Greene family, father Paul and sons Carl and John, oper-ate Mapledale Farm on Greenes Brook Road in Berlin. Their ancestors include two farming families who were among the pioneering settlers of the Berlin area. Today, Paul, Carl and John operate a modern dairy, milking 430 cows. In the last few years they have diversified and are making cheese which they market direct and wholesale.

The Greenes rent land in addition to their home farm to raise crops to support their dairy operation. They began renting one 50-acre parcel from Bob Bentley, a cousin, who had retired from dairying. Bob was anxious to keep the land in the family and in agriculture. The Greenes approached ASA with a plan to purchase the land from their relative and protect it with a conservation easement. ASA secured a grant from the Castanea Foundation to pay for a portion of the easement, making it

more affordable for the Greenes to acquire, and they donated the remaining value.

Telford Farm, Hoosick and White CreekSisters Carol Leith, Donna Baumann, and Laurie George do-nated a conservation easement on the 272-acre Telford Farm, which straddles the Hoosick and White Creek town line on Telford Road. The farm has been in their family since 1911 and was operated as a dairy until 1992 when they switched to raising beef.

The sisters grew up immersed in farm life. Their mother Marge and her brother Bill were both raised as farmers. Marge lived on her parents’ farm until she married their father and bought a dairy farm in White Creek. Uncle Bill continued to work and live on the Telford farm his whole life.

When the sisters were deeded the farm from their grand-mother shortly before she passed away, they all agreed they wanted to protect it. Although none of them are currently involved in agriculture, they felt strongly that the land should continue to be farmed and worried about what would happen to it in the future. Carol explains, “We could sell it to a farmer we trusted to keep it as a farm, but what would happen when he and his family were done with it? Protecting it now means we don’t have to worry–it will never be broken up. It will remain available for farming. We feel really good about that.”

The Greene Family

Earned Income 13.3%

Interest .2%

Net Assets Released 20.3%

Individual Contributions 18.5%

Events 10.3%

Foundation & Gov't Grants 37.4%

Operating Revenue, $486,491

Reserve 11%

Fundraising 5%

Admin & Support 9%

Outreach & Education 30%

Land Stewardship 8%

Land Protection 37%

Operating Expenses, $486,491

Stewardship As the number of protected properties grows, so does ASA’s responsibility to steward them and ensure that the conservation goals set forth in the easement are being upheld. In 2010-2011 ASA’s stewardship team, in partnership with the landowners, conducted site visits to all properties under easement.

ASA also committed to participation in the Land Trust Alliance’s Conservation Defense Insurance, which they are in the process of raising funds to initiate. This insurance will help cover legal defense of conservation easements and strengthen the program by mitigating ASA’s fiscal responsibility should litigation occur.

Good landowner relations are key to the stewardship pro-gram and ASA continues to build them by offering workshops on a variety of land management issues. ASA worked with Washington County Soil & Water Conservation District to offer a farm pond management workshop at the conserved Hanf property in June. Mark and Quimby Mahoney, neighbors and fellow easement donors who attended, said, “We have a farm pond that we plan to expand and would like to put in another pond in the future. The workshop was very informative and well organized. We learned a lot that was useful.”

ASA also worked with Len Cronin, a certified Finch forester, who led a walk on the conserved Klein forest in Jackson. He discussed how forest management plans can be developed and used to meet landowner’s objectives.

Outreach and EducationASA continued to expand its offering of events and programs in 2010-2011. We initiated our Farm Photography for Kids program and visited two con-served farms. Photographers Dona Ann McAdams, Cliff Oliver and Corrina Aldrich

taught the basics of photographic composition and lighting to a group of kids aged 7 to 16. A grant from TD Bank enabled us to produce and frame photos from each participant to hang in a special exhibit at the Washington County and Schaghticoke fairs.

We held three large public events starting with our 20th Anniversary Barbecue Celebration held at the Washington County Fairgrounds. More than 400 supporters came out to help celebrate the protection of more than 10,000 acres since ASA’s founding in 1990.

Utilizing a grant from the Historic Saratoga Washington on the Hudson Partnership Program, we partnered with Saratoga P.L.A.N. and the Saratoga National Historical Park to host Tour de Farm. Bicyclists rode through protected land in the Saratoga Battlefield Region to learn more about local farms, American history and land conservation.

We also expanded our Landscapes for Landsake Art Exhibition. More than 1,200 people attended and we raised a record $30,000 for our farmland conservation program.

ASA also worked with a number of landowners and educa-tors to host smaller programs. These included dairy farm tours of Tiashoke Farms and Hooskip Farm, a Walk on the Wild Side with naturalist Howard Romack, Foraging for Wild Mushrooms with mycologist Sue Van Hook, Painting the Landscape with artists Virgina McNeice and Patricia McEvoy, and a tour of Eli Truhart’s sugarhouse.

Statement of Activity—April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011Most of ASA’s operating income derives from individuals and grants which provide the funds necessary to carry out ASA’s day to day programs including conservation easement acquisition, stewardship and outreach. ASA’s total budget for FY2010-11 was $854,752. This included an operating budget of $486,491 and a land project budget of $368,261. The operating budget for this period is highlighted below.

Board of Directors 2010-11

Mary Ellen Williams, Chair, GreenwichSeth Jacobs, Vice Chair, ArgyleTom Jilek, Treasurer, SalemStephan Deibel, Secretary, White CreekArt Brod, Poestenkill & EastonGene Ceglowski, Rupert, VermontThomas Christenfeld, EastonMegan Galbraith, CambridgePhil Gitlen, EastonDave Horn, EastonAlyssa J. McClenning, NorthumberlandRemus Preda, ArgyleMargaret Stowkowski, GranvilleStuart Ziehm, Cambridge

ASA Staff

Teri Ptacek, Executive DirectorRenee Bouplon, Associate DirectorChris Krahling, Project ManagerJanet Britt, Easement StewardMeegan Finnegan, Communications and Programs Manager

You can help ensure a future for agriculture in our community• Become a member of ASA.

• Volunteer your time and talents.

• Be a conservation leader by protecting your land.

• Make a gift of real property or make a bequest in your will.

• Give through your workplace and ask your employer about matching gifts or workplace giving through EarthShare.

• Give monthly and provide a reliable stream of support for conservation.

• Honorary, memorial giving and gift memberships are meaningful ways to honor loved ones and make a gift to future generations.

For more information about ways you can support local farmland conservation, please contact Executive Director Teri Ptacek at (518) 692-7285 or by email at teri@agstewardship.org.

FoundationsAnonymous(2)CastaneaFoundationTheCommunity Foundationforthe GreaterCapitolRegionGordonFoundationNorcrossWildlifeFoundationNordlysFoundationThePeterandCarmenLucia BuckFoundation,Inc.

GovernmentNaturalHeritageTrust*NYSConservation PartnershipProgram**NYSDepartmentof Agriculture&MarketsRensselaerCountyTownofEastonTownofPittstown

Cream of the CropAnonymous(5)AgamoraFarm,adivision ofBeechHillFarmsAgard&LaPan

LandSurveyingTheChazenCompaniesGina,Stephanand AjantaDeibelEthnaDuffyTheFortMillerGroup,Inc.PhilipGitlenand MelodyMackenzieNoelandJudyHanfDaveandMargaretHornJohnStokowski&SonsInc.JuniperFarmAlandDeboraKleinCarolandDouglasLeithMarkandQuimbyMahoneyTheMcGraw-HillCompaniesPegOlsenandDavidDarrinOwlPenBooksThePhantomLaboratoryDonPomplianoand KathyTaylorTeriPtacekKathyandHughRoomeGaryStineandNina LockwoodDanielandDekoStoneLondaWeismanand SidneyKnafel

WhitemanOsterman &HannaLLPMaryEllenWilliamsWoodyHillFarms,Inc.Alexanderand MarineZagoreos

BenefactorsAnonymous(1)JamesAlcottAmericanMasalaFarmMatthewBenderIVBetterbee,Inc.DouglasandLindaBischoffNancyandAlanBrownAlandNancyBuddeGraceCampbellGeneandJeanCeglowskiDickinson&CompanyCPAsEarthshareCarolineEastmanand BertramH.FreedAlbertH.GarnerBarbaraLinellGlaser andPaulZachosGlensFallsNationalBank &TrustCompany

KennethandD. NancyJohnsonK.C.Consulting,Erich KranzandMarthaCullitonRussellandElizabethLaCroixJoanandByLaphamMitchandDorisLevinnJoshLevyLonglessonFarm-Melanie andBobMasonMaryannMcGeorgeand SusanSandersonBlissandRobbieMcIntoshRichandKathyMoses, MosesFarmNaturallyGrassFedWilliamRalstonandJoanBleikampSCANorthAmericaTissuePeter&CourtneySimonStewart’sShopsStirlingBrookFarmsCurtandFleurStrandRobertTaylorTDBank,NAElizabethLynneVanNestLJVanPatten

Thank You!We gratefully acknowledge our members who gave $500 or more between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011. We also thank our many other supporters whose gifts play a crucial role in our success but whose names are too many to list. Please see agstewardship.org for details.

* Saratoga-Washington on the Hudson Partnership Program provided funding through the NYS Natural Heritage Trust**The NYS Conservation Partnership Program is administered by the Land Trust Alliance and funded through the Environmental Protection Fund

Thanks!ASA is very grateful to members Connie Kheel and Dennis and Ella Felcher who generously hosted gatherings in their homes to help ASA connect with new supporters. Master chef Suvir Saran also made a tremendous contribution by competing on “Top Chef ” and making ASA the beneficiary of his winnings. It was very exciting to watch him compete and hear ASA’s conservation work talked about on national television!

PHOTOGRAPHY:LawrenceWhite