| DECEMBER 29, 2011 -- The Working Lands Alliance is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Connecticut Farmland Preservation Pathfinder Awards. The Pathfinder Awards are designed to recognize individuals and groups that have significantly advanced farmland preservation through leadership, advocacy, planning, and education.
An Outstanding Individual Award was awarded to Ray Wilcox, Chairman of The Town of Suffield's Open Space Committee, who has been a driving force for farmland preservation in the community of Suffield through his vision and leadership. Mr. Wilcox helped to establish the criteria set into place by the Town of Suffield in rating and ranking farmland protection. The Town has secured $2.1 million in local funds since 1999, used to preserve approximately 1,000 acres of farmland during his tenure as a volunteer leader. Ray Wilcox's legacy for farmland preservation in the Suffield community will be felt for generations to come.
Another Outstanding Individual Award was extended to Andrew Rzeznikiewicz, a Pomfret resident and Sanctuary Manager for the Audubon Center at Pomfret. Mr. Rzeznikiewicz has logged countless hours to formalize and increase momentum of the Town's Land Preservation Program. He has directly been involved in preserving over 1,000 acres and has worked with the Town to expand its preservation efforts. Acre after protected acre, he has been a passionate and enthusiastic advocate for farmland protection and is currently actively farming heirloom wheat on a protected parcel in the Town.
The Education Leader Award recognized the AGvocate Outreach Program's Steering Committee for its work to promote farm friendly policies and regulations in Eastern Connecticut. The AGvocate Program has assisted 14 towns in adopting right-to-farm ordinances, establishing Agriculture Commissions, improving land use regulations, inventorying and promoting farms, and conducting educational programs to raise awareness about the benefits of agriculture to a town's quality of life, health, environment, and economy. AGvocate is a program of Eastern Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. and funded by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture Farm Viability Grants. Its Steering Committee includes representatives from United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Eastern Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development Area, the Last Green Valley, American Farmland Trust, University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension, farm producers, and municipal officials.
The 2011 Pathfinder Award winners were recently honored at the Working Lands Alliance 11th Annual Meeting and Luncheon on November 16th, 2011. The event and these prestigious awards serve as milestones for the visionary leadership that continues to preserve farmland and promote family farms as a beloved part of our state's identity, economy, cultural heritage, and our cherished quality of life. |
