On December 29th, 2023, TRLT protected its 7th farm of the year, a 121-acre cattle farm in Davidson County. This farm, located off of Silver Hill Road in Lexington, brings the total farmland protected by TRLT in 2023 to over 570 acres. TRLT is proud to close out 2023 with the protection of this vital farmland situated in a growing area of the state.
Davidson County and the Town of Lexington are developing areas of the state, making projects like this crucial for sustaining the rural economy and providing food to local communities. The farm has over 81% prime or statewide important soils, meaning the soils are 2-3 times more productive than marginal soils. Landowners Stanley and Donna Hedrick recognized the importance of protecting their farm, leading them to work with TRLT to ensure it remains farmland forever. This farm has been in the Hedrick Family for over 65 years, originally purchased by Stanley’s father. “We are protecting this land in memory of Dwight and Beulah Hedrick Sr., and to ensure it stays as farmland for the next generation of Hedricks,” states Stanley and Donna Hedrick.
“We are so thankful for families like the Hedricks who are committed to ensuring that farmland remains undeveloped and stays in production,” states Senior Land Protection Specialist Emily Callicutt. “Thanks to partnerships with the NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Lands Easement Program, and landowners like the Hedrick’s, we can ensure family farms stay family farms.”
“Saving family farms is a core tenet of our mission” states Executive Director, Travis Morehead. North Carolina farmland is some of the most threatened in our nation. The loss of farmland at the current level is unsustainable for our state, and makes projects like the protection of the Hedrick Farm that much more important.”
This project was made possible in part by grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the N.C. Department of Agriculture through the Agricultural Lands Easement Program, and the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. Special funding for TRLT’s Farmland Fund, which makes projects like the protection of the Hedrick Farm possible, were provided by Chick-Fil-A, SC Johnson Company, and Louis Eubanks
About Three Rivers Land Trust
Three Rivers Land Trust works with private landowners and public agencies to conserve the most important natural areas, scenic rivers, family farms, and historic places in a 15-county region of the central Piedmont and Sandhills. Since 1995, The Land Trust has worked to offer reasonable and attractive options to landowners who want to save their lands for future generations to enjoy. Our mission is to work thoughtfully and selectively with property owners, conserving land that is essential to our region. For more information about Three Rivers Land Trust, please contact the Land Trust at 704-647-0302 or membership@trlt.org or visit their website at trlt.org.