There are many reasons to protect this land and this farm but one of the most important motivations for me, is that after I hang up my farmer’s hat, this land will continue to be a farm and/or revert back to wildlife, knowing that it will remain intact and as a whole forever is why we choose to protect it with a conservation easement. I also believe my parents and grandparents would have been in support of this decision. They put a lot of hard work into maintaining the land. It was important to them and they loved it.
This property became available to me because of them, their hard work and their sacrifices. During the depression my grandparents lost some of their other properties but they were able to hold onto this farm. In addition, the financial benefit associated with the easement has allowed me to purchase an adjoining piece of property. This property was part of the original farmstead and was slated for development.
You grow here, up and your existence is tied to the land. When you grow up and your existence is tied to the land, you can move away, get another job, or you can do different things. But it never leaves you. It’s there. It’s a bond.
I watched my folks work this land. Their food came from the land, their existence came from the land. Everything came from the land in some fashion or another. It was always tied to the farm.
My dad grew up here. He was born in that room and died two days shy of his eightieth birthday in that room. This is the house that he grew up in, the house he was born in. It’s where I grew up, too. This is home. This will always be home.
This farm is my mom and dad; the moment I drive into the lane I feel their presence. They’re that much a part of this place. This will always be them. My kids have that same sense, too.
— Stephen Slonaker, Hampshire County conservation easement donor, 2013