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The Working Lands Alliance recently announced the winners of its 2011 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.
The AGvocate Program’s Steering Committee was given the Education Leader Award 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. The AGvocate Program is a project of the Eastern Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. and is 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 Working Lands Alliance also presented An Outstanding Individual Award to Andrew Rzeznikiewicz, a Pomfret resident and Sanctuary Manager for the Audubon Center at Pomfret. 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.