Staff from Lancaster Farmland Trust (LFT) met with the King Family this month to sign paperwork that ensures their farm is protected forever. Farmland and woodland surround the King Farm in a rural area of Mount Joy Township near Lancaster County’s northern border.

The King family rents much of the 116-acres farm to a neighboring farmer who grows cash crops, although they do keep a few sheep on the farm. Within the farm’s boundary is a small, unnamed tributary that eventually flows into Little Chiques Creek. Recognizing their impact on the environment, the King family and the farmer who rents their land employ several conservation practices on the farm. These practices include conservation crop rotation, nutrient management, no-till, forage harvest management, pasture management, waste storage structure, and livestock heavy use area protection.

The King family spoke with LFT about preserving their farm in March 2015. The family carefully considered their decision before signing their letter of commitment. Then, they patiently waited for nearly two years before realizing their dream of preserving their farm. The King farm is adjacent to or within a 2-mile radius of 2,151 acres of preserved farmland.