Rappahannock last year was a 100-acre, multi-generational farm in

Rappahannock last year was a 100-acre, multi-generational farm in the southern end of the county, which was protected by the Krebser Fund for Rappahannock County Conservation, a PEC revolving fund created in honor of Dr. Werner Krebser. Gannon said, “This farm represents the Krebser Fund’s first conservation project and will be one of many to come.”

PEC’S Director of Land Conservation, Catherine Scott said, “The number of acres preserved last year reflects the growing belief among Piedmont residents that open space is a valuable resource, worthy of protection. In fact, we couldn’t use easements to conserve land if people hadn’t affirmed through their elected officials—both at the state level and the local level—that rural preservation has real public benefits. In Virginia, easements must be consistent with the local Comprehensive Plan.”

Bob Lee, the Executive Director of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF), said, “having worked as a County Administrator in the Piedmont for many years, I can attest that conservation of open spaces is definitely an economic win for local governments.”

According to a 2003 study that was done by the American Farmland Trust in Culpeper County, farms and other open lands use only $0.32 in local services for every dollar of taxes paid, while homes require $1.22 for every dollar paid. Land placed under permanent easement also lowers the value used by the state to determine local ability to pay, which results in increased funding from the Commonwealth for schools and other county services.

Easements also support two major industries of the Piedmont: agriculture and tourism. Like other landowners, farmers can gain needed capital by placing an easement on their land and earning a substantial state tax credit which they may either use or sell. Farmers also benefit from reduced appraisal values on