A22-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 15, 2003 Lancaster Farmland Trust Banquet Honors Landowners, Supporters ANDY ANDREWS Editor LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Most times, the Lancaster Farmland Trust sees a donation amount in a returned pledge card. This time, it was another story. The Trust received a pledge card that had dark, almost irate letters that spelled out one possi ble donor’s anger and frustration. “Why bother?” the person wrote. “Everything is built up. One farm saved ain’t goin’ to make it. Just sell and build, build, build. You lost Lancaster County years ago give up and build!” If that’s the case if the pro gram somehow “failed” in the eyes of some then why did 14 landowners “bother to work with Lancaster Farmland Trust (LFT) this year to ensure that their land will be in agriculture permanent ly?” That was the message im parted by Renny Magill, Trust di rector of development, to 280 reg istered guests, friends, and supporters Wednesday evening during the LFT’s annual dinner at the Quality Inn and Suites. Magill noted the work of Trust supporters proves that “it isn’t too late and that something tangible and concrete can be done to save enough land to help protect Lancaster County’s agriculture infrastructure, to re tain our rural heritage, and to save the beauty of Lancaster County that you cherish.” LET Executive Di rector Heidi Schelleng er noted that in the IS years of the Trust, 10,604 acres from more than 160 land owners have been pre served, and the land owners made the ultimate commitment, she said. “Their land is never going to be de veloped.” Schellenger spoke about priority items identified during a strategic study plan ning process, which in cludes not only pre served farms, but just as necessary, making the public more aware of the importance of farmland preservation through education and outreach. “It’s not just the awareness of fanners, but of citizens in gen eral to how important agriculture is to the economy and the land base to support agri culture,” she said. The planning pro cess glanced 20 years into die future to see what Lancaster Coun ty would look like. The report was unani mous: half the county, or 300,000 acres, can be preserved, a viable goal in 20 years. A new person will be contracted soon, noted Schellenger, to increase the public’s awareness of ag pres ervation in the county and nationally. Joseph Del Tito, market president, Wa chovia Bank, and Har vest Appeal 2003 chair, noted that the fundraiser reached $lOO,OOO of the $225,000 goal. He an nounced a new chair for the 2004 Appeal, Kim Smith, chair of the Lancaster Bar and Leader ship Lancaster. Brent Landis, LFT Land Pres ervation Committee chair, said that from November 2002 to this year, 14 farms were preserved with a value of more than $2.7 million. The cost? About $367,000. “Half of the preserved farms are members of the Plain Sect,” Landis said. They couldn’t make the November banquet because “November is wedding month.” R. Ted Bowers, LFT board chair, introduced the annual awards. Corporate sponsor of the year went to Larry Martin, Good Foods, Inc./Zook Molasses, Honey Brook. Donor of the Year went to Gary Van Dyke, veteri narian from Churchtown. The Amos H. Funk Spirit of Cooperation Award, business, went to Ted Brubaker, represent ing Hartman, Underhill and Bru baker, Lancaster. The Amos H. Funk Spirit of Cooperation Award, individual, went to Terry Scheetz, Stevens, and Russ Cox, Lancaster. Special recognition was given to Rep. Roy Baldwin, Rep. Scot (Turn to Page A 23) NEW WAYS TO SPELL PROFITABILITY. John Deere Nothing Runs Like A Deere Wednesday evening, Lancaster Farmland Trust honored several for their support. From left, Gary Van Dyke, donor of the year; Ken Messner and Chris Herr, distinguished service; and Terry Scheetz, Amos H. 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