Vermont Land Trust Celebrates
30 Years of Conservation
By Martha Slater

During the month of June, the Vermont Land Trust (VLT) is celebrating 30 years of land conservation with a series of events at the state’s conserved farms, forests and open spaces.

Four dairy farms in Randolph were part of a VLT-sponsored farm tour Saturday, June 9.

A number of tours went on around the state that day. Those who participated in the local tour began at the Silloway Farm, then visited the Beidlers, the Scheindels and the Oshas. They got a look at what was happening on each farm and the farmers spoke about ways they were diversifying to be more productive and plan for the future.

The Vermont Land Trust will also hold its annual celebration this Saturday, June 16 at Shelburne Farms on Rte. 7 in Shelburne. Six field trips will take place in the early afternoon, followed by a rally with music, food and speakers. Registration for field trips is from 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and the trips will take place from 12:30-2:15 p.m. General registration for the celebration will happen from 1:30-3 p.m. and the rally will run from 3-6 p.m.

The Silloway Farm was conserved by Louise and David Silloway in 2000. Their active dairy has been designated as a "Dairy of Distinction."

The Beidler Farm was conserved by Guy and Alice Lake in 1994 and Brent and Regina Beidler took over the farm in 1998. They operate a 145-acre organic dairy farm and ship their milk to Organic Valley.

Dairy farmers Chris and Pat Scheindel sold their development rights in 2002, conserving 125 acres, including 65 acres of tillable land and 35 acres of productive pasture. The Scheindel’s daughter, Betsy, and her husband, Chester Abbott, run the farm, which is visible from I-89.

John and Gail Osha conserved their farm in 1991. Although they lost their barn, they stuck with farming and have been successful. They were winners of the 1999 business executives of the year award from the Randolph Area Chamber of Commerce.

Another conserved farm in the area is Circle Saw Farm in Braintree, owned by Robert and Tay Simpson, who conserved their conventional dairy farm in 1992. Circle Saw Farm has been owned by the Simpsons for more than 35 years and has had one of the top producing herds in Orange County since the early 1980s.

A conservation easement is a land deed that transfers some rights in a property to a conservation organization. The land remains in private ownership and can be used for farming and forestry activities, but future residential development is either prohibited or carefully limited. Land conserved with a conservation easement can be bought and sold just like other lands, but the conservation provisions remain permanently attached to the land.