Landowners whose generosity helps preserve the natural beauty of Buncombe County were honored and celebrated at the 12th Land Conservation Hall of Fame dinner, hosted by Buncombe County’s Land Conservation Advisory Board and the Buncombe County Agricultural Advisory Board.
Eight families were recognized at the event for placing conservation easements and protecting 757.76 acres in the County. The event was held at the Claxton Farm Event Center amongst rolling mountains that provide a classic representation of Appalachia. This was a fitting location for the event as the farm is also under a conservation easement and its landscape will be protected into perpetuity. The donors were recognized for their conservation easement donations that closed between 2023-2024 in Buncombe County. The Donors recognized include:
- Bruce and Jean Larson for Larson Forest
- Linda “Tarana” Wesley for Dragonheart Forest
- Joseph Ramsey for Ramsey Century Farm
- Vanessa Campbell and Alex Brown for Full Sun Farm
- Claus Kroeger and Debbie Sinex for South McDaris Ridge
- Arthur Covington and Simmons Covington Lettre for Sandy Mush Creek
- Patricia Young for Young Homeplace
- Dianne Smith for Andy’s Branch Preserve
In addition to thanking landowners, the Land Conservation Advisory Board and Agricultural Advisory Board annually present Conservationist of the Year and Conservation Legacy awards to landowners. The Conservationist of the Year was presented to Anthony Cole of Jasperwood Farm.
About Anthony Cole:
Cole is a fifth-generation farmer passionate about protecting natural resources and the heritage of agriculture in the County. Cole is currently in the process of placing conservation easements on 263.18 acres of his property in the Newfound community. His passion for natural resource protection can also be seen in his knowledge, research testing, and piloting production on his farm. He has produced and donated over 10,000 pounds of winter storage crops for Bounty and Soul Free Food Markets and coordinates the Newfound Community Center as a way of giving back to his community.
The Conservation Legacy award was presented to Albert Sneed, posthumously, for his contribution to creating and leading the Land Conservation Advisory Board (LCAB).
About Albert Sneed:
David Gantt, who served as a Commissioner and Chair to the Board of Commissioners between 1996-2016, presented the award and spoke highly of Sneed and all the significant work in the early days of Buncombe County’s conservation efforts. Sneed served as the first LCAB Chair and helped shape and guide the Board’s role in conservation in Buncombe. He was a trusted figure in the community whose expertise in the financial benefits and legal aspects of conservation easements was valuable in establishing the LCAB.
About the Land Conservation and Agricultural Advisory Boards:
Buncombe County created the Land Conservation Advisory Board in 2004 to study and promote the use of conservation easements to protect scenic beauty and view sheds, which are sources of pristine water, provide natural habitats for wildlife, and are vital to WNC’s tourism-driven economy. “In the last two decades, Buncombe County has led North Carolina in the conservation of open lands and the preservation of historical farms. The Land Conservation Advisory Board has been a critical partner in this effort,” says Nancy Nehls Nelson, the LCAB Chair. “Wise land use is a major component of keeping our county and region economically strong. We are compelled to protect the treasured beauty, the water, the air, the wildlife habitats, the very real rural heritage of our mountain area. This annual celebration by those who participate in this effort, reinforces the critical importance, today and for the future, of this mission.”
Buncombe County created the Agricultural Advisory Board in 1989 to oversee the Farmland Preservation Program and encourage the voluntary preservation of farm and forestland from non-farm development to protect the county’s natural resources and fertile lands for food production. Terri Wells, one of Buncombe County’s Commissioners and Agricultural Advisory Board members, says “The enthusiasm continues to grow for conserving our working family farms, mountains, and outdoor recreational lands. We appreciate all the landowners and conservation partners who work together for the benefit of our community.”
Conservation easements are voluntary agreements landowners enter into with a non-profit land trust or the county. Landowners agree not to develop the property in ways that could degrade its conservation value. There are also potential tax incentives in recognition of the public benefit derived from permanently protecting the land.
For more information about land conservation, the conservation awards or the Land Conservation Advisory Board, and Agricultural Advisory Board contact Avni Naik, Farmland Preservation Coordinator for Buncombe Agricultural and Land Resources Department by emailing Avni.naik@buncombecounty.org.