CHAMBERSBURG – Creekside Dairy at 4675 Fort McCord Road in Chambersburg was the setting as local farmers and their supporters gathered together to celebrate the preservation of 20,000 acres of farmland throughout Franklin County.
The Sept. 25 event, which took place during the annual Franklin Fall Farm Fun Fest, was sponsored by the Franklin County Farm Bureau. Guest speakers included Franklin County Commissioner Dean Horst, chairman of the Franklin County Agricultural Land Preservation Board Jeff Grove, State Representatives Chad Reichard (R-Franklin) and Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), and Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Heidi Secord.
There was a great turnout of guests for the event, who could explore the grounds of the Creekside Dairy Farm and enjoy snacks provided by local sponsors, including ice cream from Antietam Dairy.
The preservation of the 20,000 acres of Franklin County farmland was an important milestone for the entire state of Pennsylvania. The estimated annual agricultural receipts of over $655 million have helped Franklin County lead in the production of vegetables, melons and potatoes. The county is second in the state for milk production and third for various fruits and cattle. However, this historic event was not just about the financial numbers, but also about the legacy and future of farming in the county.
As stated by Grove, “For generations farming has shaped the rhythm of this place, our work ethic, our values, our pride that comes from growing food and caring for the land and passing it on better than we found it.”
County Commissioner Horst took a similar stance on the subject and added, “Agriculture is the backbone of Franklin County’s heritage and a strong component of our local economy.”
The achievement of preserving the 20,000th acre of land in the county occurred earlier in the year when a farm owned by Daniel and Amy Hershberger became the 164th farm to be protected by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program, which was established 35 years ago. Since that time, there have been 170 farms preserved in Franklin County.
Horst summed up the milestone with this statement, “We are grateful to the farmers who put their trust in us and for being important partners in this process.” In the state of Pennsylvania, 58 counties participate in the easement program, and Franklin County is one of them. Landowners who apply for the easement and are approved by the county’s ag board are then sent to the State Agricultural Land Preservation Board, which will seek out state funding to not only preserve the farm but also to improve the productivity and distribution of products.
The easement program has not only been successful in Franklin County but also in the entire state of Pennsylvania, which leads the nation in the number of preserved farms and acreage. Over $1.7 billion dollars has been invested in the preservation of over 6,500 farms and over 656,000 acres of farmland in the state since 1988.
For more information about the Franklin County farmland and agricultural preservation, readers may visit: www.franklincountypa.gov/programs
Readers also may contact the Franklin County Planning Department at 717-261-3855 or email [email protected].
