September 2023 Issue

Page 30 September 2023 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN BLACK’S LIVESTOCK -The Next Pasture - Where the grass is always green, lush & stirrup high Individual Horse & Pet Cremation Standard Mortality 24 hour service available John E. Black: 610.220.5262 Matthew Hoffman: 610.656.3258 Office: 610.584.4482 Fax: 610.584.9111 BLACK’S LIVESTOCK P.O. Box 662 Skippack, PA 19472 www.nextpasture.com Hanover Shoe Farms Preserves 1,785 Acres of Historic Farmland On July 19, federal, state, and local officials joined togeth- er to celebrate the preservation of 1,785 contiguous acres of historically significant farmland at the Hanover Shoe Farms, Inc. in Adams County, PA. Since 2019, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Pennsylvania De- partment of Agriculture, Land Conservancy of Adams Coun- ty, and Adams County Office of Planning and Development have worked together to protect a total of 11 parcels of land, owned by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., with permanent easements. Funds from USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Pro- gram (RCPP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Pro- gram (ACEP) were used to help purchase the easements, which will forever protect the land from development. “Prime soil and clean water are critical resources for feeding a growing population,” Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Red- ding said. “Families who preserve their farms forge a partnership with government, investing together in ensuring that future Pennsylvania families will have green spaces, and the resources to produce food, income, and jobs. Each preserved farm represents a vital partnership among farm owners, state, local, and federal government, and private land conservancies that will feed our country’s future for generations to come.” Hanover Shoe Farms is an internationally recognized horse breeding operation. The horse population located on the farms averages 886 horses. According to a recent stury by the Adams County Office of Planning and Development, the annual economic impact of the equine industry in Adams County is $49 million. In 2019, horses bred at Hanover Shoe Farms produced more earnings for jockeys than any other horse farm in the world. Russell Williams is the fourth-generation owner. Preserv- ing his land became a priority with the extra pressure for devel- opment in the area. In addition to Hanover Shoe Farms, Inc., some adjacent landowners have gener- ously donated land to be included in the easements. “By preserv- ing farms, we’ve been able to lock down a micro region,” said Williams. “Land will always have a green place.” He also notes that a horse farm needs a cer- tain amount of peace and quiet. The easements have been able to “establish boundaries where horses can lead a normal life and be horses,’” he added. “The success of this project could not have happened without the willingness and dedication of the landowner as well as the col- laboration of numerous entities,” said Ellen Dayhoff, Manager, Rural Resource Division, Adams County Office of Planning and Development. “The Adams Coun- ty Commissioners, Conewago and Union Townships and The Land Conservancy of Adams County all worked together with both State and Federal Programs to see this project through to completion! It truly takes a Village!” To learn more about USDA conservation programs and how they can help you and your land, please visit pa.nrcs.usda.gov. Please submit your events to steph@eastcoastequestrian.net . Please provide event name, location, city, state and contact information for inclusion at no cost in East Coast Equestrian's calendar of events. Attention Event Organizers!