2010 Annual Report - American Farmland Trust

2 0 1 0 A n n u A l R e p o R t A m e R i c A n F A R m l A n d t R u s t
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Saving the Land
that Sustains Us
American Farmland Trust (AFT) is the
nation’s leading conservation organization
dedicated to saving America’s farm and
ranch land, promoting environmentally
sound farming practices and supporting a
sustainable future for farms. As the vital
link among farmers, conservationists and
policy makers, we’re focused on ensuring the
availability of the land that provides fresh
food, a healthy environment and lasting
rural landscapes. Since our founding in 1980
by a group of farmers and conservationists
concerned about the rapid loss of farmland
to development, we’ve helped to save
more than three million acres of farm
and ranch land and led the way for
the adoption of conservation
practices on millions more.
FRom the leAdeRship
When we asked readers of
our online newsletter to
vote on a cover for this
annual report, we had an inkling
the cow would win. Many people
love cows, and a pretty brown Jersey
named Jet is hard to resist.
Miranda Kaiser Jon Scholl
Jet lives on a grass-based dairy
farm in the Pacific Northwest, but she is part of a much larger story: one
that includes consumers and farmers, animals and plants, the land and
waterways and countless other resources nationwide.
It is American Farmland Trust’s mission to make sure our farms,
food and environment are as healthy and viable as possible. That means
supporting farmers so they can make a living growing food, fiber and renewable
energy for America and the world. It also means helping farmers
have the resources they need to practice conservation on their land
while resisting the siren’s call from developers. And it means building
bridges between urban and rural residents while educating consumers
and communities about the importance of American Farmland Trust’s
longtime motto, No Farms, No Food.®
As the nation’s leading advocate for farm and ranch land conservation,
American Farmland Trust has been working hard to save the land
and keep thriving farms in our communities for more than 30 years. We
couldn’t have done it without your help.
With your support in 2010, we continued our work in the corridors of
Congress, state houses and town halls around the country to design better
policies for farms, food and the land. We pioneered new programs to
reward farmers for farming in ways that protect the soil, water, climate
and wildlife. We collaborated with farmers, land trusts and communities
on programs that protect agricultural land in perpetuity. And we
educated tens of thousands of consumers on the importance of supporting
famers, farmers markets and healthy food—while working to keep
local food and farmland available for communities around the country.
For more than 30 years, American Farmland Trust has worked to
save our nation’s farms. Today—because of your support and that of
many others—we are making significant progress. Working together, we
can ensure a bright future for our nation’s farms, food and environment.
Thank you for all that you do to save the land that sustains us!
Sincerely,
miranda kaiser jon scholl
Board Chair President
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