New Board and Staff Additions at Yolo Land Trust Strengthen Capacity to Conserve Farmland in Yolo County
(Woodland, CA) – The Yolo Land Trust is proud to announce recent organizational growth, strengthening the land trust’s capacity to serve the Yolo County community and continue the important work of conserving productive farmland for future generations. In January, the Yolo Land Trust added two new members to their board of directors, elected its 2022 slate of officers, and hired a new staff member.
The Yolo Land Trust Board of Directors voted in the addition of Duncan MacEwan of ERA Economics and Nick Gallagher of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The board of directors is now comprised of ten Yolo County leaders who volunteer their time and provide guidance and support to the organization. Each member brings years of professional and personal experience around agriculture, land use, and conservation practices.
Neal Van Alfen, Board President of Yolo Land Trust, expressed his excitement for the new board members: “It’s an exciting time for Yolo Land Trust, I know Duncan and Nick will provide valuable insight and direction for our organization. They each have a wealth of knowledge pertaining to land conservation to contribute to Yolo Land Trust as we accomplish our mission of conserving agricultural land in Yolo County.”
Additionally, Yolo Land Trust has elected its 2022 slate of officers. Neal Van Alfen as President and Mary-Ann Warmerdam, Senior Vice President Governmental Affairs at Rural County Representatives of California, as Vice-President will continue in the offices they previously held. Kathy Ward has moved to Treasurer and Melissa Harlan, Co-Owner at Harlan Family Ranch, was elected Secretary. Chuck Moore, Senior Vice President at Farm Credit West, previously served as Treasurer is now an Emeritus Director serving on the Finance Committee.
The vacant staff position of Development & Communication Coordinator was filled by Stacy Wear. She is responsible for the planning, coordination and operation of the Yolo Land Trust’s development and communication programs, and serves as the lead staff for community and fundraising events. “Stacy has a demonstrated background in nonprofit fundraising and event coordination,” says Michele Clark, Executive Director of Yolo Land Trust. “She brings new ideas, experience with donor engagement, and marketing skills that will be an asset to our organization as we expand our outreach efforts in the community.”
The Yolo Land Trust has a simple mission – to conserve the productive farmland and ranchland of Yolo County. Land conservation keeps our rural heritage alive, fosters healthy communities, generates good jobs, supports working farms and ranches, preserves wildlife habitats, and maintains the agricultural landscapes of Yolo County. Since its founding in 1988, the Yolo Land Trust has permanently conserved over 12,200 farmland acres, and has helped farm families place a voluntary agricultural conservation easement agreement on over 70 farms throughout Yolo County. For more information on the Yolo Land Trust Board of Directors and Staff, click here.
