Washington County farm among those preserved through $10.2 million state investment
Courtesy of Washington County Agricultural Fair
A Washington County farm is among 31 across Pennsylvania that will be permanently preserved through a new state investment aimed at protecting agricultural land from development.
The Shapiro Administration announced more than $10.2 million in funding to purchase development rights for farms, totaling 2,645 acres in 20 counties. The funding was approved by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board.
In Washington County, the investment totals $300,251, and will preserve a 95-acre sheep and goat farm called Brownsheepfarm, in South Franklin Township. The funding includes $199,284 from the state and $100,967 from the county.
By purchasing development rights, the program ensures the preserved land remains in agricultural use and cannot be sold for residential or commercial development in the future.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said the program reflects the state’s ongoing commitment to supporting farmers and protecting farmland.
“Pennsylvania leads the nation in preserved farmland, thanks to the unwavering commitment of our farm families and strong support at every level of government,” Redding said. “Many of these farmers have been offered the opportunity to sell their land for development, but they’ve chosen instead to stay committed to feeding our commonwealth and carrying on their families’ farming traditions. The Shapiro Administration is honoring that commitment by protecting farmland and investing in the innovation and infrastructure needed to sustain Pennsylvania agriculture for generations to come.”
Agriculture plays an essential role in Pennsylvania’s economy. Nearly 49,000 farms contribute $132.5 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy and support almost 600,000 jobs.
In addition to the Brownsheepfarm, other Pennsylvania farm families that chose to preserve their farms are farmers Robert Pardoe Jr. and John Marsteller Jr., who have resisted the pressure to sell their land for development, choosing instead to preserve their farms and continue farming in Northumberland and York counties.
The Marsteller farm, for example, includes seven parcels creating a 2,700-acre block of preserved farmland. This will be the Marsteller family’s fourth preserved easement since setting a state record with a 1,063-acre easement in 1993.
“It’s been important for me and my family to not only farm the land, but to make sure that there are farms, and productive ones, for the future,” Marsteller said. “My mom always said that I was born on a tractor. I’ve been driving trucks and tractors since I was 5 years old. I was born and raised on the same farm that I live on today.”