143 acres of farmland preserved in Perkiomen Valley area

When the State Agricultural Land Preservation Board voted April 10 to protect 3,187 acres across 29 farms in 17 counties from future residential or commercial development, they were also voting to preserve 264 acres of farmland in Chester and Montgomery counties.

The farms were protected by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Farmland Preservation Program.

• The largest was a 121-acre livestock and crop farm in East Vincent Township, owned by John Frazier Hunt and Myrtrice Penelope McCaskill, according to a post on state Sen. Katie Muth’s, D-44th Dist., Facebook page.

The other three farms, all located in Montgomery County, are also in the district represented by state Rep. Donna Scheuren, R-147th Dist.

According to an announcement from her office, they are:

• 40-acre crop farm at 11 Smith Road, Schwenksville, owned by Kirk Grater. A total of $518,836 was invested for this preservation, with $14,156 coming from the state and $504,680 coming from Montgomery County.
• 19-acre Tranquility equine farm at 812 Perkiomenville Road, Perkiomenville, owned by Gwinn Kent. A total of $202,729.65 was invested for this preservation, with $8,129.65 coming from the state and $194,600 coming from the county.
• 84-acre crop farm located at 855 Perkiomenville Road, Perkiomenville, owned by Paul and Jacquelyn P.  Wagner. A total of $568,149.15 was invested for this preservation, with $562,580.70 coming from the state and $5,568.45 coming from the county.

These conservation easement purchases ensure Pennsylvania farmers will have the quality land they need to continue supporting families, communities and jobs in the future, according to a press release issued by Scheuren’s office.

“Farmland preservation continues to be a top issue for me,” said Scheuren. “With three additional farms now preserved, that makes six farms that have been saved in my time as your representative. Those six farms total 256 acres of land that are now forever preserved in the 147th District.  Protecting open space across the entire district remains one of my biggest priorities.”