Lessons from LFT Staff

Lancaster Farmland Trust (LFT) is a small but mighty team passionate about saving land. Regardless of the team’s size, LFT has protected over 623 farms, met with hundreds of landowners, tackled numerous obstacles together, and learned many, many lessons. Despite the shared enthusiasm for farmland preservation, everyone at LFT has a different story to tell and learns different lessons along the way. This week, we’ve asked some of our staff members what important lessons they’ve learned on the job at LFT, and what has stuck with them the most.

Chandra Robbins, LFT’s Communication Specialist, began her marketing role for LFT in 2023. According to Chandra, her marketing work at LFT has shown her how little the general public knows about agriculture, and how hungry the community is for educational opportunities. She notes that “even though we are surrounded by farms in Lancaster, many people don’t know what farming is truly like or how their food is actually grown.” Despite this, she also notes how curious the general public is about farming. “That’s what makes my job so fun! Many people want to learn about farming and preservation, and that’s where social media can be a tool for good,” she says.

Michelle Brubaker became LFT’s Land Protection Associate in 2025, and as she wraps up her first year on the team, she says she’s constantly reminded of how much care goes into agriculture.

“Farmers put a lot of thought, planning, time, and money into stewarding their land, which in a lot of cases is land they grew up on,” she says. She also notes that this year’s tough spring frost reminds her how difficult farming can be. “It’s not easy being a farmer,” says Michelle, “and there’s a lot to be thankful for driving through this county’s backroads and looking out over sprawling farmland. I hope everyone takes a moment to take in the beauty of Lancaster County as often as they can.”

Claire Emrick’s journey with LFT also began in 2025, when she joined the team as the Community and Donor Relations Associate. She says working with LFT has given her a newfound appreciation for how much work and relationship-building it takes to preserve farms.

“I have learned a lot about the mechanics of farmland preservation, and most importantly, that the landowner needs to be the one to ultimately make the decision—which doesn’t happen without a certain level of trust,” she says.

She also notes that LFT’s relationships with community members are just as important! “Before starting at LFT, I didn’t realize that our work is primarily funded by individual donors. Without support from our community, none of this work would be possible!”

Despite their different roles, each team member works hard to learn about and protect Lancaster’s beautiful farmland. No matter your job, agriculture in Lancaster County has a lesson for all of us, if we’re willing to listen! To learn more about the lessons our staff members have learned over the years at LFT, click here!