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Foster Hill Farm, the former Milford, PA home of local philanthropist and business owner Dick Snyder, has been bequeathed to the Delaware Highlands Conservancy. The farm will soon be transferred to the Conservancy, the region’s primary land trust, in line with Mr. Snyder’s wishes. In his typical altruistic spirit, Mr. Snyder made the Conservancy the beneficiary of Foster Hill Farm knowing that it would protect the land’s natural resources while allowing sustainable uses including forestry, agriculture, and community purposes.

Prior to his untimely passing, Dick Snyder valued the work of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy and wanted to invest in its mission. He believed that the Board of the Conservancy would be good stewards of the proceeds from the farm.

A conservation easement is being placed by the Conservancy to protect the land for future generations. A conservation easement is a voluntary, legally binding agreement between a landowner and a land trust that permanently protects a property’s natural values in which the landowner continues to own and manage the land, subject to the permitted uses detailed in the easement.

With the easement in place, Delaware Highlands Conservancy will search for a conservation buyer for Foster Hill Farm, with proceeds being used to support the Conservancy’s mission of land conservation. As the easement holder, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy will work with the landowner to provide assistance and guidance in caring for the land. The Conservancy will also perform annual visits to Foster Hill Farm to ensure that the requirements in the conservation easement are being upheld. This will guarantee that the farm’s unique conservation values are protected forever.

Conservancy Executive Director Diane Rosencrance stated, “We are deeply honored to be one of the beneficiaries of Dick Snyder’s estate and the named recipient of his beloved Foster Hill Farm. He believed in the conservation of land and the protection of our natural resources. By bequeathing his farm to the Conservancy, he took steps to act on his vision of protecting his own land for future generations and to support the continuing work of the Conservancy.”

Photo by Linda Thoma