Washington County farmers celebrated a milestone this week. The Washington County Farmland Preservation Program has grown to more than 50 farms that have committed to the program. According to Caroline Sinchar, Washington County Administrator for the program, farmers create a deed restriction easement that will commit their land to be a productive farm in perpetuity. Bill Iams is the owner of the Iams farm and he did that to continue his family’s legacy. He says that his grandchildren will be the eighth generation to operate his family’s beef cattle farm. Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding spoke during the celebration. He called the program a personal commitment by farmers unlike any other. He went on to say that the Farm Preservation Program is important not just for the food industry, but for the survival of natural resources such as ground water and wildlife. All three agree that the program is important in the sense that once an acre of ground is sold for development, that land is gone forever and a preservation program counteracts that. Washington County has 52 farms registered for the Farm Preservation Program. Statewide, 58 counties have 50 or more farms registered in their Farm Preservation Programs.(Pictured L-R, Russell Redding Secy. of Agr., Caroline Sinchar, County Program Adminstrator, Bill Iams, Owner Iams Farm and event host)