What would you do with my land?

sidebar: A case in point

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This article first appeared in INHF's Spring 2006 magazine.

A woman recently contacted INHF regarding her interest in protecting her farm, which consists of cropland, including some set-aside acreage, and the farmstead.

Our staff visited the farm and talked at length with her about her concerns and goals. We learned that her over-arching aim is to keep this 100-acre farm from being subdivided. Her property is located on the edge of a small rural town and several miles from a city, an area which is quickly being transformed by subdivision.

She has no strong feelings about the ultimate ownership of the property; either private or public, provided the open space is permanently protected. Nor does she have any expectations around maintenance of the house and outbuildings.

Cathy Engstrom/INHF

In addition to protecting natural resources, land donations to INHF also offer educational opportunities to diverse people—from college interns planning conservation careers to local kids and adults who volunteer during the Annual Prairie Rescue.

Joe McGovern/INHF

After much discussion about how various options fit her goals, the landowner realized that at least three possible outcomes would satisfy her wishes while also meeting INHF’s needs and mission:

• INHF could own the property and continue to farm the cropland with income going to our conservation work statewide.
• INHF could convey the property to the county, or other public entity, with land preservation agreements in place. (This might be an option if, for example, the county wanted to create additional wildlife habitat in the area.)
• INHF could sell the farm to a private conservation buyer with permanent land preservation agreements in place. (This might be an option if, for example, an individual or family was looking for land that was suitable for reconstructing a prairie or for producing specialty crops.) Proceeds from the sale would go to our statewide conservation work.

In this case, the donation of land will be by bequest, hopefully occurring many years in the future. Satisfied that her goals could be met by any of these three methods, the owner is content to leave that final decision to INHF when the farm transfers.

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For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, Director of Communications, or call (515) 288-1846.