American Farmland Trust, Visit Horse Country Announce Strategic Partnership

American Farmland Trust and Visit Horse Country have announced a strategic partnership aligning AFT's mission of farmland protection with the agritourism experiences offered through Horse Country and its members.

“AFT is proud to partner with Visit Horse Country and as a national organization, supports the conservation of equine land,” said Billy Van Pelt, AFT director of external relations and senior advisor. “We strongly support the thoroughbred industry and want to draw attention to the importance of the equine industry and the permanent protection of its 'factory floor,' farmland.”

“Most people aren't regularly in contact with our critical productive farmland, but our experiences allow guests to engage in a personal and intimate way with agriculture,” said Anne Sabatino Hardy, executive director of Visit Horse Country. “We're excited to help carry the message of how important it is to keep farmers on the land, and preserve that land in a truly hands-on way.”

Agritourism is a powerful tool for advocacy and awareness, and a growing segment of tourism overall, with 62 million people visiting farms, ranches and wineries annually, according to the National Tour Association. Likewise, awareness of land preservation and sustainability has trended upward as a concern for Americans in recent years.

“While we know the messaging of preservation is serious, we also recognize and celebrate the value of fun,” said Hardy. “Letting people get up close and personal with the horse, land and people of Horse Country really is a delightful way to spend time and, ultimately to fall a little bit in love.”

Experiences at Visit Horse Country member locations are offered daily, and open equine locations around Central Kentucky to guests from around the United States and the globe. Since the nonprofit's formation in 2015, Visit Horse Country has welcomed more than 140,000 guests and counts the premier stallion, nursery, clinics and other equine organizations among its membership, with the unifying mission of fan development for the horse and Kentucky.

American Farmland Trust has counted among its supporters many farm owners and community leaders also participating with Visit Horse Country's touring programAFT partners with land trusts across the nation. Bluegrass Land Conservancy is AFT's local land trust partner in Kentucky.

The post American Farmland Trust, Visit Horse Country Announce Strategic Partnership appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

American Farmland Trust Sponsors 2020 Breeders Cup

American Farmland Trust (AFT), a national leader in protecting agricultural land that partners with Bluegrass Land Conservancy in Kentucky, will sponsor the 2020 Breeders’ Cup, which will be held at Keeneland Nov. 6-7. The sponsorship is hoped to call attention to the need for equine land farm protection.

Nearly 7 million acres of farm land across the nation have been permanently protected by AFT and its partners, with another 300 million acres protected with conservation practices.

“Protecting farmland, which is the factory floor of the horse business, is critical to this nation not just because it is important to horse people, but because we are protecting some of the most productive, versatile, and resilient soils in this country,” said Libby Jones, who co-owns Airdrie Stud with her husband, Brereton, and is an AFT President’s Council member. “I hope to see more farms across the nation put their land into conservation easements, preserving it in perpetuity for its highest agricultural purpose.”

According to AFT, 2,000 acres of farmland are converted every day to non-agricultural uses. Nationwide, 11 million acres were lost to non-agricultural uses from 2001-2016.

The post American Farmland Trust Sponsors 2020 Breeders Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights