Press release by the Lebanon Valley Conservancy posted 12 August 2026

The Lebanon Valley Conservancy (TLVC) is pleased to announce the conservation of 136 acres in the Annville area of East Hanover Township, PA. The Lebanon County farm, owned by John and Megan Donmoyer, is actively farmed with crops and a dairy operation. The farm is near Fort Indiantown Gap, and within the Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape. The land around the Kittatinny Ridge is a strategic area of focus for TLVC, serving as a crucial corridor for songbird migration and vital habitat for rare wildlife. The Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape was established to strengthen military readiness, conserve natural resources, improve agricultural and forestry economies, and increase public access to outdoor recreation.

TLVC land protection director, Courtney Reimann, shared, “This project is significant because it was funded through a partnership with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, and the ARMY National Guard’s Fort Indiantown Gap Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program. The RCPP grant opportunity allows farmers to preserve and improve their farms. The REPI program supports military readiness while preserving agriculture, recreation, and natural habitats.”

The Donmoyer family chose the option of the RCPP grant instead of selling their farm to developers. “Developers gave me many offers over the years, but I wanted the farm to stay in the family,” John Donmoyer explained. “TLVC’s role as a land trust was to bring together the pieces of the puzzle to make that work, and on a local level, to ensure the conservation of the farm into the future,” added Reimann.

The Donmoyer property has rolling hills of prime farmland where various crops are planted and harvested throughout the year. The wooded areas along the Swatara Creek provide important wildlife habitat and control runoff into the Swatara Creek, which is an important water source for the Lebanon area. The farm has historical importance as well, with deeds for the property going back to the mid 1700’s. Megan Donmoyer shared, “Over the years, I’ve found an English coin, musket balls, and gun flint on the farm.” Charles “Chuck” Wertz, TLVC board member emeritus, added, “The farm has three lime kilns, the remains of a spring house, and a cattle underpass to allow cattle to pass from one side of the farm to the other, beneath Jonestown Road.”

About the Lebanon Valley Conservancy

Formed in 2000, TLVC’s mission is to promote the
conservation of cultural, historical and natural resources through public awareness, education and land preservation. TLVC works in cooperation with neighboring conservancies and trusts, as well as local and state governments, to protect and ensure equitable access to these valuable resources in the Lebanon Valley. To date, more than 1,500 acres of land have been preserved. Visit www.TLVC.org to donate, volunteer or become a member.

About the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation

The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation is the lead partner to the Army National Guard for the REPI Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program at Ft. Pickett in Virginia and Ft. Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania and the Marine Corps REPI program at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation

About NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) A USDA initiative, the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is directed by NRCS and is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. NRCS helps producers, soil and water conservation districts, and other partners protect and conserve natural resources on private lands throughout the United States. Home | Natural Resources Conservation Service

About the Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape

Located in central Pennsylvania’s Appalachian
Mountains, the Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape is anchored by Fort Indiantown Gap (FTIG), the nation’s busiest National Guard training center and the Army’s second most active heliport. The sentinel landscape encompasses forested ridges and fertile valleys that provide clean water and serve as a crucial corridor for rare wildlife and bird migration. With the primary mission of preserving military mission readiness, operations, testing, and training capabilities, partners in the Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape are focused on increasing coordinated and holistic land conservation, natural resource protection, and stewardship initiatives. In supporting these working lands, the sentinel landscape further supports local outdoor recreation and small-town economies. Kittatinny Ridge | Sentinel Landscapes