Patterson Farm ~ 138 acres, Alamance County

Thomas Wade and Lillie B. Patterson.  Sale of Conservation Easement.

Patterson Farm was the first farm protected by PLC in the agricultural community of Sutphin Mill.  When put up for sale in 1996, this 138-acre farm was providing support crops to three significant dairies in the community.  Additionally, the farm was located squarely within the center of the community; hence, its conversion to non-agricultural development would change the community’s very character.  Rather than quietly watching their community change, the community took action to protect their community’s character and heritage.

The Patterson Family sold the farm to the American Farmland Trust (AFT), a national organization working to protect farmland.  Meanwhile, PLC raised the necessary funds to purchase the farm’s development rights from AFT and the community identified conservation buyers, Charlie Bolton and his wife, Ruth Leight, to purchase the farm subject to an agricultural easement prohibiting non-agricultural development and protecting the farm’s agricultural soils, scenic value, and open space character. 

Project funding provided by the Weaver Foundation, Kathleen Price Bryan Family Fund, Hillsdale Fund and the Alamance Foundation.

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