Skip to main content
Donate
  • COVID-19
  • What We Dotrigger
    DonateBack
    • Our Strategytrigger
      DonateBack
      • Relevance
      • Rate
      • Rigor
      • Resilience
  • What You Can Dotrigger
    DonateBack
    • Conserve Your Landtrigger
      DonateBack
      • Getting Started
      • Conservation Options
      • Benefits for Landowners
      • Questions?
  • Issues & Actiontrigger
    DonateBack
    • Take Actiontrigger
      DonateBack
      • Advocacy Webinars
      • Ambassadors
      • Tax Incentives
    • Issues
    • Tools & Tipstrigger
      DonateBack
      • Politics: What’s Allowed?
      • Connect with Congress
      • Social Media for Advocacy
      • 10 Ways to Say Thank You
      • Media Outreach for Advocacy
      • Advocacy Days
    • Success Stories
  • For Land Truststrigger
    DonateBack
    • Topicstrigger
      DonateBack
      • Accreditation
      • Attorneys
      • Boards
      • Climate Change
      • Collaboration
      • Communications
      • Community Conservation
      • Conservation Defense
      • Economic Benefits
      • Federal Programs
      • Fundraising
      • Insurance
      • Land Trust Standards and Practices
      • Stewardship
      • Strategic Conservation
      • Taxes
      • The Learning Center
      • Field Services
    • Resourcestrigger
      DonateBack
      • Articles
      • Conferences
      • Express Learning Kits
      • Publications
      • Success Stories
      • Webinars
      • The Learning Center
      • Field Services
    • Membershipstrigger
      DonateBack
      • The Learning Center
      • Field Services
  • Membershiptrigger
    DonateBack
    • Land Trust Members
    • Land Trust Memberstrigger
      DonateBack
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Affiliates
    • Affiliates
    • Our Top Ten
  • Givingtrigger
    DonateBack
    • Individual Supporterstrigger
      DonateBack
      • Guardians of the Land Society
      • President’s Circle
      • Monthly Giving
      • Planned Giving
    • Corporate Circle
  • Blog
  • The Learning Center
  • Jobs
  • Experts
  • Abouttrigger
    DonateBack
    • Strategic Plan
    • Land Trust Alliance Jobs
    • Historytrigger
      DonateBack
      • Summary Timeline
    • Staff Directorytrigger
      DonateBack
      • Leadership
    • Board of Directors
    • Offices
    • Saving Land Magazine
    • Annual Report
    • Charity Ratings
    • Awards Program
    • Partnerships
    • Press Releases
    • National Land Trust Census
    • Leadership Program
  • Press
  • Contact
  • The Learning Center
Home
Home Search Menu
Home
  • Blog
  • Jobs
  • Experts
  • About
  • Press
  • Contact
  • The Learning Center
  • COVID-19
  • What We Do
  • What You Can Do
  • Issues & Action
  • For Land Trusts
    • Explore Topics

      AccreditationAttorneysBoardsClimate ChangeCollaborationCommunications
      Community ConservationConservation DefenseEconomic BenefitsFederal ProgramsFundraisingInsurance
      Land Trust Standards and PracticesStewardshipStrategic ConservationTaxes
      AccreditationAttorneysBoardsClimate ChangeCollaborationCommunicationsCommunity ConservationConservation Defense
      Economic BenefitsFederal ProgramsFundraisingInsuranceLand Trust Standards and PracticesStewardshipStrategic ConservationTaxes
    • Resources and Tools

      • Articles
      • Conferences
      • Express Learning Kits
      • Publications
      • Success Stories
      • Webinars
      • The Learning Center
      • Field Services
    • Membership

      • Member benefits
      • Affiliate benefits
      • Become a member
      • Become an Affiliate
  • Membership
  • Giving
  • Donate
For Land TrustsFor Land Trusts

It’s Up to Us

Author: 
Elisabeth Ptak
Source: 
2013 Annual Report
i
© DJ Glisson/Firefly Imageworks

Michigan is first in the United States in petunias and pickling cucumbers and a world leader in the production of tart cherries. Famous for its grapes, peaches and apples, the state also has a thriving agritourism industry. More than a third of its 10 million acres of farmland is under some kind of preservation agreement. Now it can add hosting the culmination of the long-delayed 2014 Farm Bill to its list of agricultural accomplishments. President Obama signed the bill into law on February 7, 2013 at Michigan State University. And Glen Chown was there.

“The Farm Bill has a profound impact on conservation acreage in America,” says Glen, executive director of the accredited Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy in northwest Michigan. Glen is also a Land Trust Alliance Advocacy Ambassador. For three years he worked closely with the bill’s sponsor, Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), to protect land trust priorities in the bill. It would ultimately designate more than $1 billion in conservation funding for working farms and ranches through the Agricultural Land Easements program.

“Senator Stabenow is passionate about conservation and natural resources and the work we do,” Glen says, “but passage of the Farm Bill took great perseverance and vision on her part. Now it’s up to us to get to work. Building a relationship with congressional leaders is essential. If we’re going to increase the pace of land conservation, this is the way to do it."

In fact, the Conservancy places as much importance on providing information to elected leaders as it does to donors and the media. “It’s the little things — a note, a photo, an invitation to a celebration,” says Glen. “The best way is to invite legislators out to see your project and meet with landowners to see firsthand what you’re doing. It’s lots more fun for them than meeting with K Street lobbyists.”

The Conservancy has outlined its future priorities: thousands of acres straddling the east shore of Lake Michigan of fruitbelt farmland ideally suited for specialty crops; blue ribbon trout streams that
crisscross this land; and unique dunes on the coast. Farm Bill funding could help secure these lands for all time. Meanwhile, the organization is planning a big barn party to commemorate the bill’s passage. “As a land trust movement, we should all be celebrating this accomplishment,” says Glen. “It will have an extraordinary effect on our mission.” With a cherry on top.

Join Us

Together we will advance change and increase impact for land conservation.
Donate Renew Join

Count on Us

The Land Trust Alliance makes careful use of your support.

View our charity ratingsCharity Navigator: Four Star CharityBetter Business Bureau: Accredited Charity

Stay Informed

Get our e-newsletter filled with tips and info about the places you love.

Connect with Us

Land Trust Alliance
1250 H Street NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
info@lta.org
202-638-4725

FacebookTwitterLinkedinYoutubeInstagramBlog RSS
© Copyright 2021 Land Trust Alliance
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map
  • Contact Us
  • En Español