Relationship is the Key

When Gordon Hoover arrives on a farm, he tosses his phone in his truck. For him, farm visits
deserve something rare today—undivided attention. Some visits last fifteen minutes, others over
an hour. Regardless of the time, conservation and stewardship begin with building relationships for
Gordon.

A few years ago, LFT noticed something concerning—traditional conservation outreach wasn’t
cutting it anymore. Something needed to change. After noticing the success of Gordon’s outreach
philosophy, LFT decided to shift gears. It was time to stop the large, public meetings and start a new
kind of outreach: face-to-face, one-on-one sessions with every single farmer. In Salisbury Township,
that meant visiting over 500 farmers, but LFT was ready to get the ball rolling.

“We noticed that farmers are too busy to come to off-site meetings anymore. Plus, people are far
less likely to ask questions they may have in front of large groups of people,” notes Gordon.

Completing 500 farm meetings is no small feat, and Gordon played an important role in the success
of this new mission. Gordon was one of the various team members who would visit these farmers,
building trust and discussing the future of conservation with them.

“Conservation is being a good steward of our resources,” says Gordon, “but I think the main setback
is that a lot of conservation projects, while they increase the value of farms, have a very slow pay-
back. Building costs went through the roof, and farmers don’t have the cash flow for conservation
implementation.”

Lancaster County farmers needed to know they weren’t alone. With help from LFT, the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Environmental Defense Fund, Salisbury Township, and TeamAg,
Gordon and others were able to debunk conservation myths, connect individuals with funding,
and field necessary questions with farmers. Visiting every farm in Salisbury Township ensured that
all landowners there received tailored guidance, personal attention, and clear next steps. And it
worked.

Every farm is different, and each farmer faces their own set of obstacles. By physically visiting
farms, LFT staff could see firsthand the potential problems landowners may be facing and discuss
which solutions would work best on each property.

“It’s important to start with individual needs and treat farmers as individuals.” The Salisbury
Township Project was a great success, leading to the development of over 100 new conservation
plans and the creation of four demonstration farms. Farmers could visit these demonstration farms
to witness the benefits of BMPs and discuss opportunities with other farmers, spreading the word
across the county.

The impact of these new and improved conservation plans is immeasurable. LFT estimates that
the Salisbury Township project will prevent roughly 40,000 pounds of nitrogen from entering local
streams—and eventually Chesapeake Bay—each year.

The success in Salisbury Township proved that personal, relationship-driven outreach works, and
LFT continues to replicate the model across the county. To date, LFT staff and project partners have
visited every farm not only in Salisbury Township, but also in Leacock, Paradise, and Strasburg
Townships.

Installing BMPs, organizing projects, and witnessing water quality improvements takes time and
patience. However, LFT, local farmers, and conservation partners are committed to the long haul.
By continuing to build relationships, LFT is working toward something invaluable—a greener
Lancaster County and a healthier Chesapeake Bay.

Salisbury Township is proof of what’s possible when outreach is personal, partnerships are strong,
and stewardship is shared. “Relationships and the tools to build them are important,” says Gordon.
Together, we’re building a future where Lancaster’s farmland and waterways can thrive for
generations to come.