Women in Preservation

March is International Women’s Month, and here at LFT, we’re grateful for all the women who make this work possible! Today, we’re checking in with some of the women on the team to learn about why they do the work that they do and where their passion comes from. Keep scrolling to hear what they have to say!

Kristin Raab | LFT Office Administrator & Executive Assistant
I am a person who loves a challenge and building community. Being a member of the team at LFT absolutely provides me with opportunities for that every day. I am lucky enough to have been involved with Lancaster Farmland Trust since I moved here over 20 years ago. The unique opportunity to learn about my new home as I would drive from corner to corner of the county and meet the farm families who have worked with LFT over the years has shaped my understanding of what makes Lancaster County special. The combination of legacy, heritage, and vision towards the future that is embraced by our landowners and supporters was something that was exciting to be connected with. These days, I love my work as the Office Administrator at LFT because I get to stay connected with the people who I met in those early days and I am many times the first connection for the folks who are just learning about LFT and the work we do, all the while helping to advance our mission to protect and steward the land that makes this place so special.

Amy Baumann | LFT VP of Strategic Priorities
I think a lot of us hope that the work we do has lasting impact…that we contribute something positive to the world that outlasts ourselves. Working to protect farms in Lancaster, some of which have already lasted and been passed down within families for generations, gives me hope that our small space in this world will still be here, abundantly providing for future generations, long after all of us are gone.

Claire Emrick | LFT Community & Donor Relations Associate
I’m motivated by a desire to build connections between people and land. I spent a lot of my life feeling disconnected from the food on my plate, the land I stand on, and the world at large—but realized my life grew so much richer when I focused on connection and being a good steward for this special place we call home! I love my role at LFT because I get to connect people to our incredible farmland and hopefully foster that same appreciation and concern that motivates me to do this work.

Mikaela Bender | LFT Communication Manager
I love helping connect people with a message. Whether through design, copy, imagery, or experiences. I love the challenge of taking something complex and big, like our work at LFT, and boiling it down to make it accessible to anyone passionate about Lancaster County. When I first moved to Lancaster, farmland was the foundation that fueled everything I love about this county. In the 18 years I’ve been here, I’ve seen the landscape of Lancaster change a lot, and I am so grateful and proud to be part of the work of LFT protecting our local farmland. I love that I get to use creativity and connection towards a positive impact in my community.

Chandra Robbins | LFT Communication Specialist
For a long time, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in communications. Growing up in a generation with unlimited internet access, I’ve always felt strongly about working in a job where I can use social media as a positive force, rather than a negative or inauthentic one. Being at LFT, I can do exactly that – I help farmers share their stories, build community, and rally support for an amazing cause. I’m proud of the team I’m on, and I’m proud of the mission I advocate for. I feel grateful and honored to share the message of saving farms in a place as beautiful and abundant as Lancaster County. I do what I do because I love this place, and I love a good TikTok trend.