Farms Protected in 2025
When a farm is preserved, it is protected for agricultural use forever. The farm family protects their way of life and gains a friend and champion in LFT for further conservation and water quality efforts. To learn about the farms preserved in 2025 and the hard-working families that keep it all growing, keep scrolling!
“Our farmland in Lancaster County is precious – we can’t get it back once it is gone. The best time to act is now.” -Jeff Swinehart, President & CEO
The Conley Farm
The Conley Farm was preserved at LFT’s Together, for the Land annual dinner, thanks to dedicated donors, partners, and a generous township match!
The Conley Farm is a 97-acre property located in West Hempfield Township, home to three generations of the Conley family. The family’s ancestors bought the farm in 1783, and the current farmhouse on the property dates to 1808. Today, Mr. Conley works on the farm with his son, grandson, and nephew.
Together, the family grows wheat, cash crops, and produce, selling produce through their on-site farm stand and other County auctions. The farm is also home to the operation’s beef cattle, as well as 12 pigs raised by Mr. Conley’s grandson.
Passionate for conservation and stewardship, the Conley family has been implementing numerous conservation practices for decades. Some of these practices include no-till farming, pasture fencing, crop rotation, and more!
The preservation of the Conley Farm not only saves beautiful views and fresh food for generations, but also a piece of Lancaster County’s rich agricultural heritage.
We want to offer our sincerest thanks to all that contributed to the preservation of the Conley Farm and the success of our annual dinner. Congratulations to the Conleys!
The Fuller Farms
The Fuller family, dedicated to the preservation of Lancaster’s productive soil, has preserved two farms this month in Little Britain Township! Mr. and Mrs. Fuller shared a goal of permanently protecting their farm properties, and after Mr. Fuller’s passing, Mrs. Fuller has followed through with the preservation process to fulfill their wishes. The preservation of both properties is a result of LFT’s partnership with the Agricultural Preserve Board. Together, both organizations will continue to work with the Fullers and monitor the farms to ensure they’re protected forever!
The first Fuller Farm is a 20-acre property with 1,847 feet of road frontage. The Fuller family currently utilizes this farm to grow crops such as corn, small grains, and hay. This farm is within a two-mile radius of 3,654 acres of other preserved farms, so the protection of this property adds to Little Britain’s available open space.
The second Fuller property is a 36-acre farm. The family also utilizes this farm to grow crops, as well as house the family and numerous cows. With 805 feet of streams on the property, the protection of this farm will save habitats and ecosystems for generations to come. Congratulations to the Fullers, your farms are protected forever!
The Smucker Farm
The Smucker Farm is a 62-acre dairy farm located in Paradise Township. The Smuckers currently raise 75 dairy cows on the property, as well as grow support crops. With about 1400 feet of the Pequea Creek and 1500 feet of a tributary running through the property, the Smuckers are dedicated to implementing various Best Management Practices on their farm, including a new manure storage pit, heavy use area, and more!
After hearing of LFT’s extensive work in conservation, the Smuckers reached out for resources, eventually deciding to preserve their farm in the process. Now that the farm is protected forever, the Smuckers hope to finish their conservation projects and continue to invest in the property. Congratulations, Smucker family, your farm will feed the future of Lancaster County!
The Esh Farm
Located in Sadsbury Township, the Esh Farm is a 66-acre dairy farm home to numerous cows, horses, and goats. As the third generation of Esh’s to work on the farm, Mr. and Mrs. Esh decided to permanently protect their legacy in hopes of passing the farm on to their son in the future. Protecting this farm not only protects beautiful views and productive soil, but also history, as part of the farmhouse dates back to 1850.
Plus, protecting the farm adds to Sadsbury Township’s available open space, as this property is in close proximity to other preserved farms.
Thanks to a grant awarded by the High Foundation, the Esh Farm is protected forever, stretching funds further to protect even more farms! Congratulations on the protection of your farm, Esh family!
The Blank Farm
Located in Providence Township, the Blank Farm is a 48-acre dairy operation. The farm family cares for 39 cows, 12 heifers, and 9 horses, and grows support crops for their business. Feeling the pressure of development, the Blanks decided to preserve their farm so their sons could take over the family business in the future.
With 1,609 feet of stream frontage on the farm, the Blanks are dedicated to conservation, currently working diligently to implement a riparian buffer along the stream. The preservation of this farm will also allow the Blanks to invest funds into further improving their operation. Congratulations, Blank family, on preserving your farm!
The McFarland Farm
Located in Rapho Township, the McFarland Farm is a 39-acre property home to beautiful woodland, pasture, and streams. Funded through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the McFarland family preserved this farm to re-wild the property and restore the woodland to its natural state, rehabilitating important habitats and ecosystems. With 3,102 feet of stream frontage on the farm, preserving and re-wilding the property will protect the stream and its resources forever! Alongside re-wilding projects, the McFarland family uses the farm to keep bees, as well as rent the pasture to neighboring farmers for production.
Accepting funding through federal agencies like NRCS allows LFT to stretch donor dollars further, preserving more farms and conserving more resources. Congratulations to the McFarland family, your farm is protected forever!
The Klingler Farm
The Klingler Farm is a 34-acre property located in Silver Spring Township. As part of our current partnership, Silver Spring Township’s Land Preservation Review Board contacted LFT to protect this farm, as it’s adjacent to other preserved properties in the area.
The farm is comprised of cropland and woodland, and the family is working to clear invasive species and plant native species on the property, benefiting the farm and the environment. The family also rents their cropland to neighboring farmers for production. Congratulations, Klingler family, your farm is officially preserved!
The preservation of farms outside of Lancaster County is generously funded by those partnering counties or farmers donating their easements. When you donate to LFT, your gift is utilized for the protection and stewardship of Lancaster County farms!
The Peak Farm
The Peak Farm is a 26-acre property in Silver Spring Township used for hay production. With 2,574 feet of stream frontage and lots of woodland on the farm, the preservation of this property protects numerous natural resources and habitats. After her husband’s passing, Mrs. Peak decided to fulfill their wish of preserving the farm they built together, protecting their hard work and saving the land’s natural resources. With high visibility and proximity to preserved farms, the protection of the Peak property maintains beautiful farm viewsheds and open space in an area currently pressured by residential growth.
Congratulations to the Peak family, your hard work and legacy will live on forever!
The preservation of farms outside of Lancaster County is generously funded by those partnering counties or farmers donating their easements. When you donate to LFT, your gift is utilized for the protection and stewardship of Lancaster County farms!
The King Farm
Located in Strasburg Township, the King property is a 40-acre dairy operation home to 44 cows, six mules, and a horse.
The King family first learned about preservation through an LFT outreach visit in 2023. With grant funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), LFT was searching for farms to both preserve and assist with conservation practices. The King Farm, then owned by Mr. King’s parents, was a great candidate for the program, as the family wished to improve the property’s manure storage and pass the operation on to future generations.
Today, the King Farm is protected, and the first phase of the conservation project is complete! Surrounded by other preserved farms, the preservation of the King farm will also contribute to increased open land in the township, mitigating flooding and replenishing groundwater supplies.
Congratulations to the King family!
The Fisher Farm
Located in Caernarvon Township, the Fisher property is a 35-acre equine farm home to 10 horses. Comprised of 91% Class 2 soils, the Fishers decided to preserve their property to keep its natural resources protected forever. Surrounded by other preserved farms, the preservation of the Fisher farm will contribute to the open land in the township, mitigating flooding and replenishing groundwater supplies. The Fisher farm was preserved as a result of a TDR project, providing LFT with funds to preserve more farmland in the township. Congratulations to the Fisher family, your farm is protected forever!
The Deitch Farm
The Deitch farm is a 28-acre property in Middlesex and Silver Spring Township. Concerned about the area’s high development rate, the Deitchs decided to preserve their land. Visible from portions of the Appalachian Trail, this farm provides tourists with the agricultural landscape they know and love in the area.
Thanks to funding provided by Silver Spring Township, LFT can protect this property, as well as three others to be preserved soon. Partnerships with townships such as Silver Spring allow LFT to move more quickly and efficiently through preservation projects, protecting more farms and preventing unsustainable development. We want to thank Silver Spring Township for their partnership and congratulate the Deitch family!
The preservation of farms outside of Lancaster County is generously funded by those partnering counties or farmers donating their easements. When you donate to LFT, your gift is utilized for the protection and stewardship of Lancaster County farms!
The Blue Lane Nature Area
The Blue Lane Nature Area, owned by the McKonly family, is a 26-acre property in Columbia Borough. Surrounded by other protected farms, the McKonlys decided to fully fund the preservation of this property to maintain the area’s open space and natural resources. With 21-acres of woodland, the family has begun work with environmental organizations to control invasive plants and introduce natural species into the land. The family utilizes this all-natural property for horseback riding, hiking, and other outdoor recreation. Passionate about land preservation, this is the third property preserved by the McKonly family. Congratulations to the McKonlys, your land is protected forever!
Each preserved farm plays a unique role in our community, maintaining open spaces, enhancing water quality, and protecting the scenic beauty we all know and love. To learn more about the farms we preserve, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn!
