Mervin Raudabaugh

One of the four farms in Silver Spring Township belongs to Mervin Raudabaugh, who has farmed the land for over 51 years! Mervin’s story received national attention after he rejected a data center’s $15 million offer to sell his land and instead chose to preserve it through his township’s partnership with Lancaster Farmland Trust.

We are grateful that Mervin so willingly shared his story and passion for farmland preservation. The attention this story brought to LFT had a significant impact on our reach across social media channels, email registrations, out-of-state donors, and new friends from across the country interested in learning how to get involved. Media created by LFT to promote this story garnered over 10 million combined views across our social media platforms. It brought in over 65,000 new followers interested in supporting and learning more about protecting local farmland! This story was unique in its reach, but this inspiring story is true for every farmer who chooses to preserve their land and forgo the financial gains of selling to development. All of our farmers inspire us with their commitment to their land and the investment they are making in future generations.