The York County Community Foundation this week awarded its largest grant ever -- $120,000-- to fund a three-year initiative to educate local officials on the importance of protecting agricultural land and to create an agriculture preservation program for municipalities.

The Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council accepted the grant for this groundbreaking collaborative venture at the John and Paige Smith Animal Education Center. The initiative will achieve greater municipal participation in farmland preservation by focusing on education and the economics of land preservation.

“This grant is so important because it speaks to the agricultural priorities of the YorkCounts Commission. This important work will advance the YorkCounts agenda measurably in the next three years,” said Susan Barry, President of York County Community Foundation.

“After researching the needs of the agriculture community for a year, the Committee is tremendously excited about the resources brought to the table by this collaborative venture,” said Linda Davidson, chair of the Agriculture & Land Preservation Advisory Committee of the Community Foundation.

Brian Hill, interim president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, added that “Today we have an extraordinary opportunity and partnership — funders, local experts and an organization with statewide and national capabilities all working together to protect one of this region's irreplaceable resources: farmland.”

Jackie Kramer, executive director of the Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County, said that the grant “addresses one of the important findings of the Future of Agriculture study conducted by the York County Agriculture Business Council and Penn State Cooperative Extension. The study found farmers felt there was a need to educate non-farmers and municipal officials regarding the economics of agriculture, land preservation, and farming practices.”

The grant is funded by The Robert R. Anderson Family Fund of the Community Foundation, the remarkable legacy of Isabel C. Anderson, a woman who wished to inspire the preservation of farming and farmland in York County. It was established with a $1 million gift from the estate of Dr. Anderson, Mr. Anderson’s daughter and a Temple University professor who returned regularly to her beloved family farm in Lower Chanceford Township.

Founded in 1961, York County Community Foundation is a permanent community endowment — built by gifts from individuals, families, organizations and businesses — dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all of York County’s citizens now and for generations to come. York County Community Foundation has assets of $42 million.

12/23/2005