Pittsburgh, Pa. – April 22, 2020 – The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced today the purchase of 27 acres of farmland in South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, near New Stanton, that will soon be available for lease to local farmers as part of the Conservancy’s Farmland Access Initiative.

The initiative connects farmers seeking to grow crops or raise livestock with affordable farmland, in order to supply Pittsburgh area restaurants, farmers markets and food distributors.

Pasture and farm fields on a WPC protected farm in Westmoreland CountyThis newly acquired farm is located approximately 45 minutes east of Pittsburgh in Ruffs Dale near the New Stanton exit on the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76). Protecting this farmland, says Tom Saunders, president and CEO of the Conservancy, safeguards this beautiful and historic farm property, helps address the challenges of farmers needing affordable farmland, and supports local food production for the Pittsburgh region. The farm has been in the former landowner’s family for generations.

“It’s fitting that we permanently protected this farmland today on Earth Day; not only will this land never be developed, it will remain a farm for planting and growing crops as it has since 1827,” said Saunders. “We’ll work to ensure that the natural features of the farm are protected while helping out local farmers wanting to provide organic local foods to people living in the region.”

The Conservancy already has two locations, one in Mercer County and another in Lawrence County, where farmers are leasing farmland to raise livestock or produce crops for food distribution in the Pittsburgh region.

Barn and pasture on a WPC protected farm in Westmoreland County“Purchasing land and equipment to operate a farm are among the biggest financial challenges most new farmers will face,” says Jake Kristophel, a co-owner of Fallen Aspen Farm, which is located on a WPC property in Lawrence County. “The option to lease land made farming more attractive and affordable for us, and leasing continues to be the right choice for our small ag business.”

Farmers interested in leasing acres of this farm in Westmoreland County should contact the Conservancy at 412-288-2777 or land@paconserve.org for more information. A downloadable map of the property is available by clicking this link or at the Conservancy’s website, WaterLandLife.org.

Funding to acquire this property was made possible by the generosity of the Henry L. Hillman, Colcom and Katherine Mabis McKenna foundations, the Heinz Endowments and an anonymous donor.

###

About the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy:
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) enhances the region by protecting and restoring exceptional places. A private nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1932, WPC has helped to establish 11 state parks, conserved more than a quarter million acres of natural lands and protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams. The Conservancy owns and operates Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, now on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which symbolizes people living in harmony with nature. In addition, WPC enriches our region’s cities and towns through 132 community gardens and other green spaces that are planted with the help of more than 11,000 volunteers. The work of WPC is accomplished through the support of more than 9,000 members. For more information, visit WaterLandLife.org or Fallingwater.org.

Media Contact:
Carmen Bray
Director of Communications
412-586-2358
cbray@paconserve.org