Spring-Summer 2006 Valley Trust Newsletter, Three Valley Conservation Trust

8/9/2019 Spring-Summer 2006 Valley Trust Newsletter, Three Valley Conservation Trust

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FROM THE DESK OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LARRY FRIMERMAN

A Time of Growth, Recommitment: The past few months have been challenging for the Three Valley Conservation Trust. TheBoard and staff have tweaked our Mission, Vision, Goals, andStrategies and set a direction for 2006 to focus on completing pending tasks and proceeding with due diligence. The Trust will be working to assist and recognize our partner organizations as part of a new approach to our work.

Our mission is simple: The Trust works with people and commu-nities to conserve the natural environment and cultural heritage of Southwest Ohio. How we achieve this is much more complex.We cannot do it without our Board, members, funding partners,and organizational partnerships. In every effort we undertake,this is done with the assistance of a soil and water conservationoffice, a county commission or planning staff, a group of town-ship trustees, state farmland preservation or environmental pro-tection agency, park district, or local wildlife or agriculturalgroup. Our friends at Miami University and elsewhere have de-livered in every way possible. We will work to find ways to give back. Both our staff and Board are reaching out in new and dif-ferent ways to provide quiet assistance. I will be re-thinking how

I do things and look forward to the growth this year will bring.The Trust has had tremendous success in preserving land andwater resources during the past few years. The organization hasgrown more sophisticated, but we are still in need of additionalenergy and funding to increase effectiveness.

We are re-tooling our fundraising efforts and events, havingadopted multiple venues for fundraising.

We are working with a conservation developer for our MiamiConservancy District Innovative Water Quality Improvementgrant to install and monitor creative measures for minimizingwater quality impacts on a Conservation Development. TheTrust is providing technical assistance to townships and counties

on land use and farmland preservation.We are in the process of hiring a development director to assist inthe development of endowment and land protection funding.

To maximize our scarce time we are focusing on properties of high conservation and agricultural value. With our partners wealso are working to finish the Twin Creek Watershed Action Plan by the end of the year.

Yes, we are now at 4,965+ acres spanning 39 properties perma-nently protected, and, yes, we are protecting over ten miles of stream corridor. But, how we achieve the next 5,000 acres willdepend in large part on renewal of funding, such as Clean Ohio,and on how well we all can build new bonds and bridge gaps thatmay exist. If you can help in this regard, TVCT and our localcommunities will be grateful. Once again, thank you ever somuch for your continued support and commitment!

FROM THE DESK OF FRANK HOUSE, TVCT CHAIR

Spring has been exceptionally beautiful this year, starting withthe migration of woodcocks and the arrival of the red-head ducks,and continuing with the wood ducks occupying our next boxes.Our resident male swan tolerated a visiting tundra swan until the

interloper swam towards his nesting mate and then dispatched thevisitor inhospitably to the opposite end of the pond. A pair oforioles apparently likes our place and have taken up residence.

It seems as though the wild flowers competed to out-do them-selves, and the weather nurtured the largest morels Marcia hashad in years with which to work her culinary miracles.

As our strawberries began to blush, we anticipated how good theywould taste, surpassing those rubbery, store bought berries.However, each morning and evening we discovered ripened ber-ries with score lines across them or that are partially eaten. I sus- pected the elusive slugs, yet a stake out revealed the culprits to bea pair of cat birds. Welded-wire mesh over the beds should havefoiled them, but these Houdini birds would slip in any space be-

tween the panels. Eventually, abundant nature provided plenty of berries to share.

Marcia’s orphaned fawn that our Llama raised now has her ownfawn. Instead of browsing in the pasture where she grew up, shedecided to dwell closer to home and thinks our rhododendronsare just for her.

All of these events are special to us and it is comforting to knowthat, with the easement, they can go on forever.

TVCT Chair Frank House, his wife Marcia and daughter Laura hosted reception for John and Judy Ruthven at their Preble County home on July7th. John Ruthven, the renowned and celebrated wildlife artist, will be

special guest speaker at the annual Trust “Auction for Acres” on Satur

day, November 11. He is working on an original work for the Trust whichwill be available at the auction. John and Judy Ruthven toured some othe Trust’s protected lands to provide inspiration for this original work.

Spring Quartet by

John Ruthven, 1993.

TVCT OPEN HOUSE & PICNIC OCT 1

Members and the public are invited to the TVCT Annual OpenHouse, Tour and Picnic, Sunday, October 1, 11:30—4 at theBeck Farm, (TVCT Office), 5920 Morning Sun Road, Oxford.Join us for burgers and hot dogs, veggies, etc, and enjoy music, ahike, talk with easement donors, Board members, volunteers andstaff, displays and a tour option. No admission charge, but dona-tions are welcome! Tour and enjoy

♦ the majestic oaks of the 148 acre Beck Farm easement

♦ the magnificent 180 acre House Farm and take a hayride!Call the Trust office at 513-524-2150 to help or for more details.



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TRUST CELEBRATES

& CHARTS NEW COURSE

ANNUAL MEETING FEATURES: STIRRING LAND USE

MESSAGE FROM K REBS, FOX, WISE

The Three Valley Conservation Trust unfolded a mission empha-sizing its service to people and communities on land conserva-tion, water quality protection, and cultural heritage to 125 supporters and dignitaries at its February 4 Annual Meeting at Miami

University’s Marcum Conference Center in Oxford. In turn, localand State dignitaries emphasized the significant role the land trust plays in providing land use guidance to decision makers.

The Trust unveiled new community-based awareness and fund-raising plans that include its newly released Kroger Rewards card program, community fundraising auction, and smaller-scale gath-erings to expose a broader cross-section of the public to its highlyregarded work. In celebration of its year 2005 accomplishments,the Three Valley Conservation Trust presented its new coursecharted by its Board of Trustees and brought in keynote speakersthat highlighted different parts of the Trust’s mission.

Gene Krebs, Executive Director of Greater Ohio, a statewide land

use and heritage group, set the tone for the evening and the pur- pose of the Campaign, which is to promote – through research, public education and grassroots advocacy – public policy in Ohioto grow our economy and improve quality of life through intelli-gent land use. To this end, Greater Ohio will work to supportredevelopment of existing communities, strengthen regional co-operation, and protect the countryside and Ohio’s natural re-sources. Krebs, a former long-time State representative and for-mer Preble County Commissioner, extensively quoted Ohio Statefigures in his presentation:

“Ohio is ranked 8th out of all states in conversion of rural land to urbanization, but is just 22nd in population growth over the

same time period. Yet, in terms of economy, quality of life, and

keeping the best and brightest young Ohioans, Ohio is losing ground in a major way. Communities such as Minneapolis and

Seattle have captured the hearts of young, mobile professionals

despite the climate.”

Stressing the need for updated planning laws, Krebs stated, “Ohiois 49th in effectiveness of its planning laws.” He added, “Our communities should adopt Main Street Programs as part of its package of incentives for urban revitalization and rural preserva-tion.” Krebs urged Ohioans to make their voices heard, includingat the voting polls where states such as Virginia have elected gov-ernors of the minority party because of their positions opposingsprawl. “It is an index-shifting issue,” he noted.

Howard Wise, assistant director of Ohio’s Department of Agri-culture, spoke about the success the Three Valley ConservationTrust has had with the Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Pro-gram- nine properties protected, covering 2,000+ acres, throughthe State’s farmland preservation program alone. “Larry and theTrust are in the top three of all the farmland preservation organi-zations in the State of Ohio, and he has been with the programsince its inception,” Wise added.

Wise touted the success of the program statewide and the need todevelop other funding sources. Clearly, the easement success of Three Valley shows how strong its presence is to the public.

Howard Wise, Assistant Director of Ohio’s Department of Agriculture (ODA) presented Larry Frimerman, Frank House, Jerry and

Cleo Gerber with ODA’s Ohio Preserved Farmland signs for each Ohio Agricultur

Easement Program donor, at the TVCT Annual Meeting on February 4, 2006 at

Miami University’s Marcum Conference Center in Oxford.

Butler County Commissioner Mike Fox spoke very highly of thework of the Three Valley Conservation Trust. “Clearly, they ar

making a difference,” he observed. “We have to find a way osupporting the organization more directly from the County andfrom the grassroots. In fact, the timing is critical in addressing thdevelopment pressures in western Butler County. Hopefully, wcan do a better job with land conservation and planning than thCounty did in the eastern part of the county.”

Representative Shawn Webster was pleased to be a part of thgroup and pledged his support and a continuing open door to thland trust and its supporters.

Easement donors Ann Geddes and David Roark gave inspiringremarks about why they signed easements to protect their preciou properties. Geddes spoke of wanting to preserve her stretch o

Indian Creek and how the Trust and Butler Metroparks are playinga role in the voluntary conservation of the beautiful Indian CreekCorridor. Her 88-acre easement, signed in 2005, provides a back bone of habitat for diverse plant and animal species.

She shared that the Trust offers expertise in wording conservationagreements in ways that achieve the landowner’s wishes whilavoiding loopholes that could otherwise jeopardize the sanctity oan easement.

Dave Roark spoke of the Trust’s assistance in achieving his family’s goal of protecting their lovely 216-acre working farms onTom’s Run, in western Montgomery County. The Trust also recognized all the other easement donors, past staffers, interns, Treasurer Liz Woedl, committee chairs and members, advisors, grantorand benefactors, and partners such as Butler County ExtensionAgent Steve Bartels.

Executive Director Larry Frimerman briefly highlighted TVCT’successes in 2005, including 16 new properties protected, coverin1,400+ acres and nine miles of stream, monitoring the other properties. He noted TVCT’s new statutory Watershed Protection Program that places the Trust in a contractually responsible role toenhance watershed quality throughout its stream areas. Frimermanmentioned the Trust’s work in helping to found Butler CountyAdvocates for Responsible Development (BARD) on land us



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ANNUAL MEETING

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3)

Frimerman introduced new staff − Watershed Coordinator Bar- bara Hamilton, Conservation Scientist Dave Gosse, and OfficeManager Ryn Dornhuber. “Barbara and Dave are grant-funded,working only on watershed protection programs,” he added.

Continuing Board Chair Frank House laid out the group’s game plan for 2006. “We just finished a strategic planning processand

clarified our focus for the coming year. This year we will befinishing these land protection grants, working through existing program grant commitments, closing easements in the works,and working through other priority easements. The Trust willmonitor its 35 easement-protected properties with mailed moni-toring reports and work with people and communities throughOhio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program and other land protection grant applications. The Trust will finish the TwinCreek Watershed Action Plan, and continue to provide excellentservice on land use planning. We will hire a Development Co-ordinator who will help to begin Endowment and Planned Giv-ing Campaigns.”

House also pointed out the new Mission & Vision and its sig-

nificance. “The Trust has been working to find ways to make iteasier for the broader community to support our efforts. Our mission change, our change in fundraising and membership ac-tivities reflect that perspective,” he added.

Trust Board members were elected for 2006, including returneesFrank House (currently Chair); Don Streit (Land ProtectionCommittee); Catherine Hollins (Vice Chair, Membership Chair);Thomas Klak, (Land Protection, Public Information); AliceKahn, (Nominating Committee Chair); and new Board Member Dr. W. Michele Simmons. A fond farewell was given to depart-ing board members Carl Jantzen and Michele Gressel, whosehard work and dedication are greatly appreciated! Specialthanks was also extended to major donors Ernst Bever, Linda

Fitzgerald, Hardy and Barbara Eshbaugh, Jim and Susan Fitton,Sam and Terri Fitton, and to our Board for their extraordinarywork and Leadership.

Board Member Profile - Mary Moore

Mary Moore understands that water protection and land protectiongo hand-in-hand. With the Trust’s expanded focus on water quality protection and improvement, Mary is a natural fit for the board

Originally from St. Mary’s Ohio, Mary found her way to ButleCounty to attend Miami University in Oxford where she receivedher degree in Chemistry and Zoology. Upon graduation, shserved for 20+ years in the Air Force to complete her ROTC commitment. She then returned to Oxford for a graduate degree an

has been in the area ever since. Mary’career started as a research scientist aWright State where she studied electricastimulation of the paralyzed. Followinthat she moved to Hamilton and workefor the City of Hamilton, Department oUtilities for 16 years before joining thButler County Department of Environmental Services where she retired lasyear.

While at BCDES Mary recognized thmutual interest in water protection thashe shares with the Trust. BCDES has

wastewater treatment plant that discharges into Indian Creek. Tfoster the partnership BCDES funded TVCT work in Indian Creekand the partnership continues through both organizations’ partici pation in the watershed project.

Mary serves on the Project Advisory Board for the Western Tributaries of the Lower Great Miami watershed project. As such shcontinues to provide the connection between land and water protection. Her interest in water is further exemplified by her position on the board of the Southwest Regional Water District which provides drinking water for the region.

Currently a substitute science teacher at Madison Junior HighSchool, Mary looks forward to the opportunity for a new careethat she’s been afforded by her retirement.

Mary and her “pretty wonderful” husband Bob often participate inwalks and hikes organized by Ohio Volksmarchers. Their twchildren, Carin and Jonathan both live on their own - in their own(and the bank's) places.

Historic 263- acre Tincher Farm in Reily Twp, Butler Count,y will b

preserved by TVCT through the 2006 Ohio Agricultural Easement

Purchase & Federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection. Programs.

OPEN HOUSE FOR NEW FUTURE ENERGY

EXHIBIT CENTER ON PROTECTED FARM The easement-protected Dull Homestead farm will hostan Open House August 27 4-8pm at their visitors’ center,10404 National Road, Brookville, OH. A new facilitynext to six wind turbines will display exhibits for the public to study renewable energy and the environment.

Generous Donor Gifts Keep the Trust Going!The Trust has received generous gifts from Ernst Bever, LindaFitzgerald, Sam and Terri Fitton, and Hardy and BarbaraEshbaugh recently. These gifts make it possible for the Trust tomaintain its land protection and water quality focus. The Bever gift provides an extra $10,000 per year for the next three years.Fitzgerald’s gifts provide a boost for operations and for an ease-ment acquisition match. The Fitton gift is for operations, whilethe Eshbaugh gift is for the Development Director grant match.We can’t thank you enough!!



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WALKS ON THE WILD SIDE

Expert naturalists lead different adventures in our local area tolearn about the birds, stream creatures and native plants of Butler and Preble Counties. Please call (513) 524-2150 to reserve a spotand to be notified in case of cancellation.

Sunday SEPTEMBER 10, 1:00 PM - Prairie Walk, 9693 St Rt

177, Preble Co.

Experience the magnificence of native grasses and wildflowers attheir seasonal best and discover how you can create and manage prairie habitat on your own property. Co-sponsored by MiamiValley Pheasants Forever and the Ohio Division of Wildlife, thisinformational workshop will be held on the farm of Alan andMary Bruns, Preble County's 2002 Conservation Cooperator.After touring the farm's lush grasslands, we'll learn how native prairie benefits wildlife and safeguards soil and water qualityfrom Ohio Division of Wildlife's Private Lands Biologist, HeidiDevine. We'll discuss techniques of prairie establishment and

management, and survey the various incentive programs support-ing prairie restoration on private lands. Three Valley Conserva-tion Trust Board member, Tom Klak, will demonstrate a novelmethod for creating small-scale prairie plots that attract butter-flies and birds to your home. Please dress for walking throughtall grass, rain or shine, and arrive before 1:00 p.m. Binocularsand field guides recommended. Find the Bruns' Farm on SR 177,about two miles north of Hueston Woods State Park, between SR 732 and SR 725. Look for signs. Adults and supervised adoles-cents welcomed.

♦ Thank you to our expert birder, Sam Fitton, wildlife biologistwith the Bureau of Land Management, Conservation Chair of Audubon Ohio and Vice Chair of TVCT for leading the

first of these Trust sponsored nature walks on June 17th.Sam shared his enthusiasm for birds and nature as he led aBird Walk at Indian Creek.

♦ Thank you also to TVCT’s David Gosse for leading a streamwalk on July 16th along Indian Creek to identify the critterslarge and small that inhabit our local creeks. David has 10years experience in stream science, first as aquatic ecologistfor the Nature Conservancy and now at the Trust.

TRUST ANNOUNCES GRANT TO HIRE

DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL

The Three Valley Conservation Trust announced the receipt major grant to hire a development professional to help thegional land conservation trust in sustaining its land protectionstewardship efforts for both the near and long term. The recof a $25,000 grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation to

a Membership and Development Director will assist the Oxf based land trust in meeting its contractual obligations in pernently monitoring easements through well-conceived endment, planned giving, and major donor campaigns.

“We are thrilled to have received the Greater Cincinnati Fountion grant and grateful to GCF for your vision and faith in Trust,” exclaimed Frank House, Trust Board Chair. “The mating funds from a number of great Trust Board members and s porters have enabled us to launch a search for the new Direcof Development and help him/her get off and running. Wmakes this particularly noteworthy is that the Trust had planthese development campaigns two years ago and could not ganize or initiate them without the ability to hire a developm

professional. This grant and the tremendous outpouring of key supporters make the campaigns (and their fruits) a realithe added.

House noted that the development director will work with Extive Director Larry Frimerman and the Fund Development Cmittee to set fundraising goals enabling the TVCT to achievegoals with a focus on the development of major gifts, cacampaigns and project-specific fundraising, foundation graand planned gifts. Of course, this position requires the abilitresearch prospects, work with donor databases, plan initiatiorganize priorities, and develop and execute major and plangiving strategies.

Following is a summary of the Three Valley ConservaTrust’s campaigns:

• Land Acquisition Fund: $1,000,000 more is needed

• Operations Endowment: $1 million needed.

• Monitoring and Stewardship Endowment: $420needed in addition to the $80,000 already in the fund

• Planned Giving Campaign: 3 planned gifts sough bring in $100,000 for both operations and for endment purposes.

• Major Donor Campaign: $50,000 in gifts from ten major donors.

• Membership Upgrades and Expansions: incresought for 250 new members this year.

VOLUNTEERS OPPORTUNITIES There are many ways to help! Volunteers are always neededand you are always welcome to join in the fun. If you areinterested in learning more about how you could help, pleasecall the TVCT office at (513) 524-2150.



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A COMMUNITY CIRCLE OF SUPPORT FOR

ECOLOGICAL HEALTH

A synergistic relationship transpired in recent months involving arange of local partners and citizens, all contributing to the eco-logical health of our community.

First, at last November’s Auction for Acres, 3VCT board member Tom Klak offered to lead a team of volunteers to work 30 hoursto remove non-native and invasive bush honeysuckle from a property, and to replace it with native shrubs. Two families fromour community, Terri and Pat Nelson and Jenny and Keith Gel- ber, were particularly interested in that service and agreed to split both the 30 work hours and the donation to the operational budgetof the Trust. Klak purchased the native shrubs, including dog-woods, serviceberries and chokeberries, from the Ohio state nurs-

ery at Marietta and donated them to the project.Second, Klak assembled a team of 9 volunteers from Miami Uni-versity, including Charlie Stevens from American Studies,Stephen and Rose Healy and Dan Edwards from Geography, and5 members of the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity led bySally Smetzer. The work team convened at the Brown Road prop-erties on Saturday April 1.

Third, two community businesses responded positively to therequest by the 3VCT’s administrative assistant, Ryn Dornhuber,for contributions. Jeff MacDonald at Ace Hardware eagerly do-nated work gloves for the volunteers. He also let the team makefree use of a rental tool designed to wrench large honeysucklesout of the ground. The team worked diligently from 9am until

after 1pm at the two properties removing honeysuckle by chain-saw and handsaw and by pulling it, and then planting native spe-cies. Last but not least, Sherry Thompson at Quiznos submarinesandwich shop donated lunch for the entire work crew, whichfound it particularly tasty after all of the hard work. Please stop by Ace and Quiznos to thank Jeff and Sherry for their commit-ments to making our community better.

MIAMI UNIVERSITY STAFF/STUDENT

VOLUNTEERS MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBL

We are grateful for the bright and dedicated MU internsTVCT. Volunteers from Alpha Phi Omega fraternity were in pensable with our Adopt-a-Highway and a honeysuckle eradtion projects. A special thank you to Sherry House, a MU computer & tech specialist, who performed magic to get our c puters and network humming, as did with Nick Hartman, Comp. Science major, as well. John Obrycki, MU EnvironmeStudies & History major tweaked the TVCT website. Ja

Guckian, a graduate student in the MU Institute of EnvironmeScience, entered data and assisted with AEPP applications.

One of our land protection interns, Chad Peters (MU Zoolowas one of only ten students in Ohio awarded an Ohio Envimental Fellowship through the Ohio PIRG Education Fund assistance from the Ohio Environmental Council. A ProteProperties Monitoring Procedures manual that Denise Howand Chad prepared is a resource for our summer term land protion intern, Scott Ulrich, a geography major.

During the winter ‘06 term D

Howard (History) provided exce

work as a land protection in

She is pictured here performicrucial monitoring task at the R

Preserve.

Ryan Cook (MU Geography)

the TVCT GIS Intern this sp

providing hundreds of GIS-

maps critical for the Ohio Agr

tural Easement Purchase Progand water quality enhancem

programs that TVCT sub

applications for protection

funding based upon the maps

data supporting them.

CLEAN OHIO REAUTHORIZATIONcontinued from Page 9

• The Farmland Preservation (AEPP) Program hastained agricultural jobs in SW Ohio in a time pewhen jobs are becoming scarce.

With the three grants covering 554 acres in 2006 offers, the exceeds 4,000 acres under commitment through Clean Oalone. The visibility and credibility in the community havecreased dramatically because of TVCT's participation in t programs, and our status has been greatly elevated.

Strategies and Actions:

The Clean Ohio Fund is set to expire in 2006. TVCT will wwith state, local, and organizational partners to extend its This may require another vote by Ohioans or may be acc plished through legislation. Stay tuned on how you can help!

Honeysuckle removal effort at the Nelson and Taylor protected

properties. The families were very grateful and made a donation

to the Trust in appreciation of these hard working volunteers.



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CLEAN OHIO PROGRAMS HELP TVCT PROTECT

THREE MAJOR FARMS (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)

These picturesque farms will be permanently preserved in a waythat enhances the environment thanks to funding from the CleanOhio Conservation Fund, USDA’s Natural Resources Conserva-tion Service, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the work of the Three Valley Conservation Trust. The three properties bringthe total under protection of the Three Valley Conservation Trustto 38 properties covering more than 4850 acres of farmland, habi-

tat and many miles of stream corridor.Each of the properties offers a significant benefit to the communityin its protection. They buffer other protected farms and naturalareas, minimize soil erosion, and voluntarily protect prime farm-land forever. Two of the farms are the home farms of larger cattlefarms in Southwest Ohio, and will also enhance environmental protection on those properties by implementing a state- and feder-ally required NRCS Whole Farm Conservation Plan.

James and Amy Leedy’s Agricultural Easement follows HazelLeedy Call’s (Jim’s mother) agricultural conservation easementdonation agreement with Three Valley Conservation Trust that permanently protected her 22 acre agricultural home ground in2005. The just completed lovely 465 acre easement is a matter of

feet from her home. The historic Ohio Dept. of Agriculture- desig-nated Ohio Century Farm cattle operation was Samuel Leedy’sfarm in the 1800s, and has been in the Leedy family ever since.

The Filbrun farm is also the second such TVCT agreement, the prior one protecting the Filbrun’s home farm east of Lewisburg inHarrison Twp, Preble County. The newly signed agricultural con-servation easement protects a beautiful and historic farm on PrebleCounty Line Road, and is just one property away from the Fil- brun’s already protected 363 acre home farm.

The Voge easement protects miles of stream corridor, open spaceand farmland along Twin Creek and Markey Run, a tributary of Twin Creek north of West Alexandria. “Our family wants to keep

all of our land as working farm ground, but we also want to protectthe creeks,” stated Fred Voge.

The families also voluntarily donated funds to the Three ValleyConservation Trust as part of an endowment to monitor their farmin perpetuity through the Trust. Three Valley Conservation Trustdoes not receive funding from the government or another sourcefor assisting landowners in protecting their property.

The Clean Ohio programs provide the landowner an opportunityto accept a bargain-sale grant to purchase their developmentrights. These competitive grants are hard to come by, and are byfar out of the norm.

Most landowners seeking to permanently keep their lands inagriculture or open space choose to donate their conservationeasement to the Three Valley Conservation Trust. The donationvalue as certified by an appraiser is often deductible as a charita ble gift for income tax or estate tax purposes.

Two more farms, one from these 2004 Conservation Fund, andthe other from the 2005 Ohio AEPP will be also preservedwithin the next few weeks.

THREE MORE FARMS TO BE PROTECTED

BY THREE VALLEY CONSERVATION TRUST

WITH THIS YEAR ’S STATE FARMLAND PROGRAM Three additional area farms will be protected by partnerships

between the Three Valley Conservation Trust and Local, Stateand Federal government, and the Ohio Department of Agricul-ture as part of the 2006 Ohio Agricultural Easement PurchaseProgram. One Butler County and two Preble County farms wereselected by the Ohio Department of Agriculture out of the 35applications covering more than 4000 acres submitted by theThree Valley Conservation Trust on behalf of farmers to perma-nently protect farms as agricultural enclaves from State and Fed-eral agencies. Only twenty three farms statewide were selectedout of nearly 200 applicants.

The farms selected are the 80 acre Emerson Voge Home Farm inSE Twin Twp, Preble County (highest scoring applicant farm inthe State), the 211 acre Marvin and Patricia Brunk farm in Twin

Twp, Preble County, and the 263 acre Carol and Marc TincherFarm on King Road in northern Reily Twp, just south of Oxfordin Butler County. The three farms to be jointly protected by theOhio Department of Agriculture and Three Valley ConservationTrust will permanently conserve another 554 acres of farmlandA fourth farm, in German Township, Montgomery County wasselected but ultimately declined the offer that went to anotherfarm. In addition, the Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation District gained approval from the program for the 150acre Meyer farm in Clay Twp, Montgomery County.

Fred & Susan Voge’s 295 acre cattle farm along Twin Creek is now permanently preserved by The Three Valley Conservation Trust under the terms of an agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commissionunder the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund.

James & Amy Leedy’s 465 acre cattle farm in Twin Twp. Preble Countyis now permanently preserved as farmland under the Ohio Agricultural

Easement Purchase Program and the Federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program with the Three Valley Conservation Trust.



The Trust serves as the local sponsor for farmers looking for tool preserve their land from being developed. This year’s program sing (the means used by the State to determine the top ranked farfocused upon farms with prime or locally important soils, intermate proximity to development (not too close the bulldozer), faclustered with other applicant farms and near other properties pernently protected from development, and ones that have Whole FConservation Plans approved by the US Natural Resources Conse

tion Service. The soils scores are compiled by county soil and wconservation districts.

“We are so appreciative of the partnership with our Butler, Preand Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation Districts,OSU Extension offices, our Natural Resources Conservation Serstaff, County Commissioners, planning offices, county enginecounty auditors, and recorders, and relevant township trustees. Estepped up to the plate and delivered big time,” beamed Larry Frimman, Three Valley Conservation Trust’s Executive Director. land trust’s staff, volunteers and Board Members logged hundredhours completing applications to complement the work of the couand local offices.

The 2006 funding round was the third year in succession that the ODepartment of Agriculture selected three farms for which the TValley Conservation Trust applied, and twelve in the five funrounds. The Three Valley Conservation Trust does not receivefunding from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, nor any mofrom the 30-40% grants landowners receive to purchase their devement rights to keep their land in permanent agriculture. The enviment benefits in several ways: The farmers implement conserva plans to conserve all of the resources on the farm such as soil, nutand/or manure management, water quality as they permanently cmit their land to never be developed. The streams are also prote by employment of these conservation measures as nutrients and sments are kept out of the creeks.

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TVCT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

LARRY FRIMERMAN, TESTIFIES BEFORE

BUTLER COUNTY COMMISSION

ON FARMLAND PRESERVATION

Honorable Commissioners, I am here for three reasons…

First, to support the changes you are making with the Zoning

Code rewrite. The Code changes are long needed and a smallstep in the road toward preserving the rural character of parts of the County.

Second, the Code needs additional tools to protect rural charac-ter such as Transfer of Development Rights, density trades, im- pact fees, development caps, and service boundary-based mora-toria to be coupled with expanded greenspace requirements andoptions.

Third, other funding mechanisms, such as use of expanded con-veyance or transfer fees for seed-funding agriculture and conser-vation easements, are necessities to leverage scarce federal dol-lars awaiting communities that generate cash matches to pro-

mote agriculturally related businesses through farmland preser-vation.

The Trust has begun partnering with Butler Metroparks on bothgreenspace and farmland preservation projects and is workingclosely on a proposal that, hopefully, will reach fruition in thenear future. The efforts will require badly needed funding for acquiring conservation or agricultural easements and, with the potential for adding rights of first refusal on acquisition, could be a very effective tool in this process.

The Trust already has 35 properties under permanent easement protection covering some 4,000 acres, compared with the 2,500acres when we spoke a year ago. At the rate we are going, evenif Butler County preserved 25,000 acres in the next ten years, we

likely would drop below 100,000 acres of farmland by then.This would be a 35% reduction from today and nearly a 50%loss over the past 30 years. Unless this trend changes, Butler County will lose the ability to sustain agricultural infrastructuressuch as seed dealers, grain elevators, farm service supplyhouses, large animal veterinary clinics, OSU Extension offices,SWCDs, NRCS offices, animal husbandry, and agricultural bro-kers, etc. An increase in conveyance fees could be used to pro-vide badly needed federal farmland preservation matching fundsand to create local incentive programs. A park levy, as in Mont-gomery County, would also be of significant assistance.

THREE MORE FARMS TO BE PROTECTED

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7)

Matching funding will also be provided to the landowner via theUS Department of Agriculture’s Farm and Ranch Lands Protec-tion Program. The agricultural conservation easement will be jointly held by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, US Depart-ment of Agriculture, and the Three Valley Conservation Trust.Annual monitoring for compliance to assure that the last cropraised is not houses is performed by the Three Valley Conserva-tion Trust.

Pictured here (l to r) are Judy Ruthven, Tom Klak and Jeanne H

(whose land is permanently protected by the Trust), and John Ruven. John Ruthven, often called, the “Twentieth Century Audubon

for his masterful paintings of nature, particularly birds (see

www.ruthven.com) was in the area to view lands protected by theTrust for ideas for a painting.



TRUST, PARTNERS AID 35 FARMERS’

EFFORTS TO PROTECT FARMS

In April the Trust submitted 35 applications cover 4,200 acres inButler, Preble, and Montgomery Counties for the fifth round of Ohio Department of Agriculture’s farmland-preservation program.

These determined and proud farmers do not want their last crop to be houses and are willing to sacrifice potential development dollarsto conserve their family’s and their community’s rural heritage.The Herculean effort undertaken by volunteers and staff of theThree Valley Conservation Trust to help farmers preserve their farm heritage was greatly appreciated by the applicants and localofficials.

Volunteers Ann Geddes, Sam Fitton, Tom Wissing, Eric and Cath-erine Hollins, Mary Moore, Cleo Gerber, Mary Tharp, Steve Dana,Don Streit, Marilyn Edwards, Cynthia Kelley, Elinor Loucks, JonCostanzo, Rita Beiser, Nick Hartman, Rebecca Evans, TVCT in-terns Ryan Cook, Denise Howard and Chad Peters, Grad AssistantsCarl Howard and Jackie Guckian, a number of the applicants andtheir families, and Office Manager Kathryn Dornhuber all put in atremendous effort to pull together the details to give farmers the best chance of scoring highly on these lengthy applications.

For example, Cook, the Trust’s GIS student intern, made literallytwo hundred maps showing proximity to water, sewer, roadwayintersections, other applicant farms, and other easement-protectedlands.

“Enough cannot be said about the support of the county and town-ship governments in Butler, Preble, and Montgomery Counties,”Frimerman added. In Butler County the support from Commission-ers Chuck Furmon, Greg Jolivette, and Mike Fox, and County Ad-ministrator Derek Conklin went above and beyond the call to helpand provide needed data. This is true of each department: SteveBartels, OSU County Extension Agent for Butler County, John Wil-liams, NRCS District Conservationist, Butler County Soil and Wa-

ter Conservation District Administrator Kevin Fall, Mike Juenglingand his Planning Staff, Greg Wilkens, Denny Krall and all in theEngineer’s Office, and Harold Baxter of Auditor Kay Rogers’ of-fice. The support of the Butler County Township Association andthe Reily and Oxford Township Trustees was invaluable.

Preble County Commissioners David Wesler, Bill Withrow, andJane Marshall, County Administrator Ken Moreland, County Clerk Connie Crowell and their staffs, Preble County’s OSU ExtensionAgent Bonnie Norris, NRCS District Conservationist DennisBunger, Preble County Soil and Water Conservation District Ad-ministrator Kelda Bittinger, SWCD Urban Specialist BobAshworth, Preble County Recorder Bill Spahr and staff, CountyPlanning Director Marty Bresher, Preble County Auditor Hal Yoder and staff, including Rick Mowery, and County Engineer Steve Sim-mons and staff were all vital partners.

Montgomery County Commissioners Vicki Pegg, Charles Curran,and Debbie Lieberman, County Administrator Deborah Feldmann,County Clerk Juanita Hunn and their staffs, NRCS District Conser-vationist Steve Boeder, Montgomery County Soil and Water Con-servation District Administrator Jim Dillon and Specialist DanJackson, Judy Dodge, Montgomery County Recorder and staff,County Planning Director Joe Tuss, Montgomery County Auditor Karl Keith and staff, including County Engineer Joe Litvin andstaff, Five Rivers Metroparks Assistant Director David Nolin, aswell as the Perry and German Township Trustees and staffs also

9

TVCT REPRESENTED AT CLEAN OHIO

PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION HEARING

Funding for the State of Ohio’s land conservation grant prgram, the Clean Ohio Fund, is about to expire. The approprition for the fourth and final funding round for the Green SpaConservation Fund, the Trail Fund, and the Brownfields Revtalization Fund was signed by the Governor into law as part the Ohio Capital bill. To provide a platform for future efforthe Ohio League of Conservation Voters and the Ohio Conse

vation and Environmental Forum co-sponsored a set of rgional forums during the past few weeks regarding an evalution of the current Clean Ohio Programs and possible strategifor reauthorization. The Trust’s Larry Frimerman spoke on tOhio Department of Agriculture’s Farmland Preservation Prgram and the Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program the April 10 and 24 Meetings, held in Englewood and Milforrespectively.

Background of the Clean Ohio Program

By passing State Issue 1 − the Clean Ohio Fund − in Novembof 2000, Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved new staspending for local environmental projects. This allowed thstate to grant funds to local communities through the sale

state bonds, and taxes were not raised to pay for the new prgram.

Thus far, the Clean Ohio Fund is beating expectations f protecting habitat, cleaning up abandoned waste sites, improing waterways, and establishing new nature trails.

Fund Description

Following passage of State Issue 1 in November 2000, the stalegislature passed House Bill 3 in spring 2001, which enactthe $400 million Clean Ohio program. House Bill 3 establishea funding structure for Clean Ohio that distributes authority four separate state agencies:

• Revitalization Fund: $200 million, Department

Development & Ohio EPA• Conservation Fund: $150 million, Public Wor

Commission.

• Farmland Preservation Fund: $25 million, Deparment of Agriculture

• Recreational Trails Fund: $25 million, Departmeof Natural Resources

Benefits Gained From Grants

• From an environmental perspective our Clean OhFarmland grants have protected streams and foresand have improved water quality by requiring the im plementation of NRCS’ Whole Farm Conservatio

Plans that have resulted in cattle fenced from streamwetland enhancement, stream bank protection, willife habitat installations, and dozens of acres of nativgrasses on agricultural lands.

• They have been effective tools in slowing sprawl exurban areas and have allowed the TVCT to bemajor force for conservation in our region.

• They have been effective tools in slowing sprawl in eurban areas and have allowed the TVCT to be a majoforce for conservation in our region.



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TWO TRUST “FUNRAISING” EVENTS

Save the Dates! Save your items/services for two different Fund-

raising Auctions to benefit the Three Valley Conservation Trust!

Community Auction – September 24, 1:30 pm at the Tala-

wanda Middle School, 4030 Oxford Reily Road (SR 732), Ox-

ford. All Proceeds Benefit the Three Valley Conservation

Trust. Auctioneers: Linda and Jim Easton, with Guest Auc-

tioneer, Doug Ross

The Three Valley Conservation Trust is planning an old-time

country Community Auction to benefit TVCT on Sunday Septem- ber 24, at 1:30pm. Delicious chicken, barbecue, burgers donated by Pierre Foods, homemade desserts etc. will be available for pur-chase beginning at 11:30 am. There is no admission charge. Thiscommunity event is for everyone! If you like the Three ValleyConservation Trust, if you want to find that special item, love auc-tions, and/or simply can’t resist the chance for a bargain gem, theTVCT Community Auction is for you!

Request for Donations of Items and Services!

Please look through your store, house, closet, attic, garage, and barn for quality, working household, farm, outdoor items includingthings such as yard equipment, vehicles, jewelry (quality as wellas costume), working electronics, computer games, nice furnish-ings, older or antique furniture, small items, decorative items,memorabilia and historical paper items, quilts, good tools, trips, oilchanges, gift certificates and services. We already have pledges of a mechanized garden implement, an exercise machine, massagegift certificate, and a working office copier!

Items can be dropped off at Don and Monica Streit’s barn just pastthe mailbox at 3328 Stillwell Beckett Rd. Call ahead to (513) 319-3850 to arrange drop-off.

Auction for Acres 4 Exciting New Format!!

Saturday 6:00 pm, November 11, Harry T. Wilks Conference

Center, Miami U. Hamilton

Auctioneer: Doug RossThe Hamilton location was chosen to encourage additional participation and inclusion of more of our members from other parts of the Trust’s service area, but close enough to retain attendance fromour Oxford members!

As in previous years, we will be offering truly unique live andsilent auction items, including exotic resort packages, seacoastgetaways, services of all kinds, original one-of-a-kind art,etc. While we'll keep the incredible diversity and stellar quality of auction items as in past years, we are planning a few surprises tokeep things fresh and exciting. To give you just a teaser of what toexpect, we are planning on

• a local celebrity chef for a mouthwatering and spectacular

menu of home-cooked savories,• a wine-tasting with a premium pour option featuring an

extraordinary selection of donated luscious vintages,

• A special guest speaker, the renowned and celebratedwildlife artist, John Ruthven, as well as have an originalof his stunning work available for auction. It will be anight that will offer something for everyone whatever their personal taste.

Items can be delivered to the TVCT office at 5920 Morning SunRoad. Call ahead at (513) 524-2150 to arrange delivery.

Look for more specific information and reservation materials the upcoming months. But please reserve the date in your caendar books now! You can also help us by donating or solicing donation items (perhaps use of a vacation home, an originwork of art, a special service, etc.). Please also completedonation form included. And we always welcome volunteeto help put this event together - from recruiting services items, arranging publicity, hanging decorations, etc. Pleacall the office if you'd like to help. If you and want to help thTrust by donating for the Auction For Acres, please contact th

Trust Office at 513-524-2150.Remember- These fundraisers provide vital support for thgeneral operations and staff for the Three Valley ConservatioTrust. Our goal is to raise at least $50,000 between the twevents, so please help by participating and donating to thTrust! Without it, we cannot accomplish the land protectioand water quality work that you have come to cherish.

VOLUNTEER INTERN EARNS EAGLE

SCOUT STATUS FOR EFFORTS

Excerpted from Saturday, May 20, 2006 Oxford Press artic by Ashley Korn (used with permission)

Of the 13 boys have earned honorable merit. Maverick Tomea senior at Talawanda High School, has been approved by th board as official Eagle Scouts.

To gain Eagle status the boys had to earn more than 20 mer badges, hold a leadership position, do community service ancreate a project that aids their community.

Completion of the project results in a visit to the Board of Rview, at which a state council representative is present to evalate the scout’s work. If approved by the councilman, the scois awarded Eagle status.

Tomes logged hours and efforts for the Three Valley Conservtion Trust. He made baseline documentations of land to g protected, took pictures and made GPS coordinates. Tomspent more than three months working for the Trust. On AprilTomes celebrated his accomplishments at his Court of Honor.

Whenever a scout reaches Eagle status they have the ceremonto award it and recognize all the accomplishments over theyears as a scout. “I’m happy I got it. It’s a huge accomplisment, and I’ll be able to use it all my life,” Tomes said.

Maverick Tomes wi

his mother Inez Tomat the TVCT Monito

ing workshop last fa

Also pictured are Tru

Board Members S

Fitton and Margare Beckwith.





10

Founded in 1994, the Three Valley Conservation Trust works with the people and com-

munities to conserve the natural environment and cultural heritage in Southwest Ohio.The Trust protects open space and farmland by acquiring, through gift or puchase,

conservation and agricultural easements, and works to protect and improve water qual-

ity in the western tributaries of the Great Miami River.

THREE VALLEY CONSERVATION TRUST BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Frank House Chair (937) 452-3983Margarette Beckwith Co-Chair of Development Committee (513) 523-1103Jon Costanzo Land Protection Committee (937) 452-1165Sam D. Fitton Vice-Chair, Land Protection Committee (513) 523-4599Michelle Simmons Public Information Committee (513) 529-5259Catherine Hollins Vice Chair, Co-chair of Membership Committee (513) 523-1876Alice Kahn Chair of Nominating Committee (513) 523-9927Tom Klak Chair of Public Information Committee (513) 756-9707Mary Moore Development Committee (513) 726-4361

Gregory Peck Land Protection Committee (513) 868-1113Jerry Stanley Auction Committee (513) 523-7179Don Streit Land Protection Committee (513) 868-3850Tom Wissing Secretary (513) 756-9278Liz Woedl Treasurer (513) 523-1782

Valley Trust News, the newsletter for members of the

Three Valley Conservation Trust, is published four times

per year.

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit No. 171Oxford, OH

45056

Larry Frimerman, Executive DirectorBarbara Hamilton, Watershed Coordinator

Dave Gosse, Conservation ScientistKathryn Dornhuber, Office Manager

Three Valley Conservation Trust5920 Morning Sun Road

P.O. Box 234Oxford, Ohio 45056

(513) 524-2150 Voice(513) 524-0162 Fax

www.3vct.org

This newsletter is printed on recycled paper.

Three Valley Conservation Trustis a member of

Documents

Spring-Summer 2006 Valley Trust Newsletter, Three Valley Conservation Trust