Open Call for Directors

• Are you a busy person who wishes "someone" would take the time to do "something" to keep our landscape intact?
• Do you care that your hometown remains a comfortable suburban-rural farming community?
• Do you know a bit about farming and hunting and forests and gardens?
• Do you have 2-3 hours to spare in a year?

Then by all means, become a Director of Winkelman Farm and make a difference with us today!

Winkelman Farm Conservation Corporation is actively seeking dynamic volunteers to serve as additional Directors on our Board. 

The role of Director is a non-paid volunteer position whose reward is the involvement in the conservation of productive farmland in our own hometown area. Very limited time is demanded of Directors: one annual meeting and regular (quarterly) updates by telephone or email. 

The WFCC Board is responsible for maintaining the Winkelman Farm mission, determining strategic direction and setting policies to carry out the mission, and the oversight of WFCC’s finances and operations. The Board reviews, provides content, and approves/disapproves every land and easement transaction.

The Board is composed of four to six members with diverse skills, backgrounds and experiences who are committed to Board service.

1. Each Board member shall have a connection to the Boston/East Eden area.
2. Each Board member shall have experience and/or education in at least one of the following fields: agriculture, forestry, conservation, outdoor recreation, natural resources extraction (natural gas, gravel), education.
3. Board members serve at-will on a volunteer basis.

SEND your note of interest to us by email or post.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind Regards,

Winkelman Farm Conservation Corporation

Board of Directors

Dr. Kevin O`Gorman

Mr. Sam Magavern

Christin Hunter
Jeff Wohlheuter

 

Cathy Lynn, Administrator

the Poetics of Farming

The first farmers came

two hundred years ago

bringing wealth to buy land

so their riches would grow

and they did.

Farming through generations
some stayed, others returned
to plant their roots
in the soil they yearned

to plow.

The farms got smaller
as land was parceled
farming in patchwork
became one more hassle

they dealt with.

Now, the last lonely farmer,
farms not for wealth,
not for status and certainly
not for his health

or hers.

She farms for the feel
of soft clay beneath her nails
for the smells after rain
from the stalls and the bales,

steaming.

He farms for the feeling
of skin coated in salt
from the sweat that rewards
a day without fault

of anyone.

They farm because of
breakdowns and frozen pipes,
too much rain, a tough drought,
a calf, who dies in the night;

repairable.

These are the simple fixes
of a simple life you cannot buy;
they farm for the luxury
to hold their heads high

most days.

He is never dim-witted
yet he holds no degree
he is a master of faith
and deep philosophy

of God and nature.

She knows her place
to work the land
for the world to eat
from her own tired hand

gratefully.

He knows he keeps
the land open and free
he maintains its health
and the scenery

for everyone else.

She feels secure
to know the land is wealth
for her children’s houses
or to sell for her health

someday.

He is unnerved
at price fluctuations
for land, corn and milk
and insecure mortgages;

feeling shame.


(c) 2011 Cathy Lynn

Our Mission

WFCC: making conservation affordable for family farms in East Eden.

Many retiring farmers face financial burdens that force the sale of their land for its valuable development rights because they are ineligible for traditional conservation easement tax deductions. WFCC is a not-for-profit organization that seeks creative ways to pay retiring farmers fair market value for the development rights to their land and holds those rights in the form of a conservation easement in perpetuity. Founded in 2007 as an organization of last resort, WFCC aids landowners in East Eden and Boston, NY who wish to preserve the natural, historic and productive farming value of their lands. WFCC works on project properties that lie within the boundaries of Feddick, East Eden, Haag and Keller Roads.

Since 2007, WFCC has protected 110 acres at the corner of Zenner and Feddick Roads with a conservation easement. WFCC is currently fundraising to add another 80 acres contiguous to this property. We have received a pledge of $10,000 which has been matched.  We need at least 10 more like-minded donors to fund our next project.


A Quote for Conversation
"Every time somebody has thought of relief for the farmer it has been to make it so he could borrow more money. What he needs is some way to pay back. Not some way to borrow more."  Will Rogers (about the 1928 version of the Farm Bill)


You Can Make a Tax-Deductible Donation
Please send us an email with your pledge and, when we have accummulated enough pledges to proceed with our project, we will contact you to organize payment.