The words “community” and “conservation” are two of my favorites in the English language. Individually, they represent many of the values that I (and I suspect many of you) hold dear: social engagement, interconnectedness, shared purpose, cultural heritage, nature, wildlife, open space and scenic beauty. Put these two words together, however, and we get something even more powerful. 

“Community conservation” is the vision for a present and future in which the benefits of land conservation are directly experienced by all in our community. It’s a movement, gaining momentum in land trusts across the country, with the bold mission to reconnect people from all walks of life to nature.

For much of our history, the benefits of conserved open spaces — fresh air, clean water, healthy soil and natural areas in which to play and find solace — haven’t been felt by all in our society. Many of our nation’s protected lands have been perceived as unwelcoming, and this has led to important segments of our community feeling disconnected from the outdoors. For those of you who have ever experienced the magic of a float down the river, or the spellbinding power of a hike at sunset, it may be difficult to imagine not having this deep connection to the land. Yet this is a reality for many right here in Eagle County. 

This is where community conservation comes in — the collective effort to forever protect the lands we love and take active measures to make them safe and inviting to people of all backgrounds. Authentic, enduring relationships between humans and the land are critical for ensuring healthy, thriving communities, and these relationships will be incomplete unless they include those who have historically been underrepresented in the outdoors. Public open spaces must be welcoming to all, and community needs must be met with thoughtful and inclusive conservation solutions.

This is community conservation, and this is the work of Eagle Valley Land Trust. It’s the passionate effort our team puts in every day to ensure that conserved lands are places that build community, value and embrace diversity, and distribute the benefits of conservation equitably. 

Designed for students 5th Grade and up who have an interest in wildlife and technology, the Eagle Valley Wild Critter Scout program involves the deployment and management of cellular trail cameras into local open spaces and national forest areas in order to capture remote photos of wildlife.

The mission of the program is to connect kids with nature and wildlife in a way that is engaging, educational and innovative, while also contributing to Eagle Valley Wild’s mission of sharing the importance of nature and wildlife with our community and our visitors.

Thank you to all who made Farm to Fork 2023 a success! We were excited to share the evening with friends, both new and old, to share updates and passion for local conservation. The event was held at the historical Donovan Ranch where guests celebrated the agricultural heritage of Eagle Valley as they sipped on wine donated by Wine By Joe.

A special thanks to our board members who donated items to the live auction, including a unicorn photoshoot, a burro hike with a charcuterie picnic, a big game photo safari at the Hill Ranch, and Amish birdhouses (a Farm to Fork tradition).

Thank you to Dani Neumann, Trey Milhoan, and Christina Lautenberg. Other event supporters included Eagle Valley Wild, Ethos Landscaping, Kaylee Brennand, Olga Barron Photography, Paragon Guides, Red Maple Catering, the Rohrig family, Sage Outdoor Adventures,10th Mountain Division Hut Association, and Under The Sky Event Rentals.

Event Harvest Tables were sponsored by Anni Davis and David Schlendorf, Tina Nielsen and Andy Littman, the JMPM Fund, Betsy and Rob Meyers, and Susan Whitecotton and Craig Weissman. Thank you to our corporate sponsors Alpine Bank, American Gypsum, Land Title, and Aprisent Financial Group for their continued support of conservation.

If you attended or supported this year’s Farm to Fork, thank you. If you missed the event, we hope to see you there next year. It’s a wonderful celebration of the "why" behind our work and of the people that make it possible.

Eagle Valley Land Trust | Phone: (970) 748-7654 | Website: www.evlt.org

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