We’re excited to share another big conservation win! Thanks to the visionary efforts of Brian and Renee Bjugstad, last month we successfully secured a conservation easement on 189 acres of prime farmland near the Footville State Wildlife Area in Rock County.
This easement ensures the land will remain undeveloped, preserving it for farming while also allowing public access for hunting, hiking, and other nature-based outdoor activities.
For Brian and Renee Bjugstad, protecting the farmland is very personal. They said, “We want to continue to pass the love of farming down to future generations. This easement deal has brought back some fantastic memories…We want to continue telling these farming stories while adding ours in, too. Let’s keep this agricultural land preserved along with the history of stories embedded into the soil that’s being planted, cared for, and harvested year after year.”
Luke Roffler, Grant Manager for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, celebrated this success, sharing, “We are very excited to partner on this project. Groundswell, the Bjugstad family, and so many other partners have been stacking success to provide significant conservation and public access acreage across the Evansville area. Their combined efforts have built a legacy of public outdoor recreation opportunities that is beyond impressive.”
Andrew Baker, Director of Land Conservation in Rock County, added, “On behalf of the County of Rock, including the PACE Council and the Land Conservation Committee, we are very appreciative of the Bjugstads’ willingness to make a commitment to the preservation of farmland in Rock County.” The County’s Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements (PACE) program has been important in protecting farmland in the area. This partnership shows how working together can help save valuable farmland.
Brian Buenzow, from the Rock River Valley Chapter of Pheasants Forever, said, “Habitat development and permanent public access has been Pheasants Forever’s mission since it started in 1982. The Rock River Valley Chapter is thrilled to support this effort.” Their support highlights how many different organizations are coming together to make sure this land is protected for the long term.
Angie Doucette from American Farmland Trust shared, “The U.S. loses 2,000 acres of farmland daily, endangering food security, rural communities, and the environment. The Wisconsin Farmland Protection Partnership is working to save the land that sustains us. Thanks to Groundswell Conservancy and the Bjugstad family, 189 acres of Wisconsin farmland are now permanently protected, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.”
Funding for this project came from the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) by way of American Farmland Trust, the state’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, and the Rock River Valley Chapter of Pheasants Forever. In addition, Groundswell’s generous supporters helped make this possible.
We would like to express a heartfelt thank you to our partners quoted above and a special shoutout to Mike Foy, Land Protection Volunteer at Groundswell. Mike led this land protection deal for Groundswell and played a key role in bringing these partners together. Thank you!