Mainebiz Special Editions

V O L . X X I V N O. X X I G I V I N G G U I D E 2 0 1 8 – 2 0 1 9 54 BOARD OFFICERS Susan Morris: Board Vice Chair Blueberry farmer, Storer Mountain Farm Henry Whittemore: Board Treasurer Principal, Crow's Nest Collaborative Frank Miles: Board Secretary Retired Educator BOARD MEMBERS William Bell: Owner, Bell Associates Inc. Jason Bolton, Ph.D.: Food Safety Specialist, Associate Extension Professor, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Stacy Brenner: Farmer, Broadturn Farm Dave Colson: Agricultural Ser vices Director, MOFGA Neil Crane: Potato Farmer, Crane Brothers Farm Meredith Eilers: Lawyer, Bernstein Shur Walter Fletcher: Dairy Farmer, Fletcher Farm Eleanor Kinney: Environmental Activist James Lawrence: Financial Consultant Jon Olson: Former Executive Director, Maine Farm Bureau Steve Page: Owner, Kousa LLC Established: 1999 Employees: 39 Annual revenue: $3,544,167 CONTACT 97 Main St., Belfast, ME 04915 (207) 338-6575 Southern Maine Office 48 Union Wharf, Portland, ME 04101 www.mainefarmlandtrust.org mainefarmlandtrust @mainefarms @mainefarms MISSION STATEMENT Maine Farmland Trust protects farmland, supports farmers and advances the future for farming. Since its founding, the Trust has helped to protect over 60,000 acres of Maine farmland and has provided critical services to over 600 farm families. SERVICE LOCATION(S) State of Maine Maine Farmland Trust 2019 GOALS In the next 10 years, about 1/3 of Maine's farmland will be in transition as farm- ers age and retire. What happens to that land will have a direct impact on the future of our economy, environment and food security. Our goal is to help pro- tect more prime farmland throughout the state, and especially in places where that land is particularly vulnerable to development. We also help farmers access land and offer business and market development support so that farmers can grow successful businesses. ese are all ways to make sure that Maine's farm- land stays in farming and can continue to feed us for generations to come. FUNDRAISING EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES f Farm Parties: Every summer we host a couple of farm parties to celebrate the growing success of farmland protection throughout the state. ey're casual and fun, on farms that we have recently protected with an agricultural easement. Farm parties are always free and open to everyone and always include farm-fresh food, local beer and wine and live music. ese parties are a wonderful way to see the impact of our work to protect farmland. f Maine Fare: Our signature food event has morphed from a festival to a collec- tion of food-focused events held throughout the month of June. Maine Fare cel- ebrates our state's diverse and abundant food system with delicious and hands- on educational workshops—like a cheesemaking workshop, mushroom foraging or a presentation of indigenous foodways. e month culminates in a grand finale celebrating the stories and taste of place. Maine Fare is a great chance for donors to explore the connections between our food and our farmland. f 20th Anniversary Celebration: 2019 marks two decades of protecting farmland, supporting farming and advancing the future for farming. We've made a big impact and have a lot to celebrate and also look forward to the next 20 years of expanding and deepening our work to foster a thriving farm economy in Maine. Businesses can sponsor our 20th year and join us at this big event! GIVING OPPORTUNITIES Our work is made possible thanks to our members. April is membership renewal month and thousands of Mainers (and some folks from away, too) send in their annual membership fee to support our work. We make a push for new members every July and send out an annual appeal in November to ask our supporters for a year-end gift. MFT has a growing cohort of business members who support our work annually. Our business members are community-minded leaders who are committed to growing the future for farming in Maine and include all sectors – from real estate to hospitality, law to architecture, market- ing, food and beverage companies and more. We are always excited to create new partnerships with businesses that align with our values and mission. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES e best way to support MFT is by becoming a member (and encouraging your friends, family and co-workers to join as well). Volunteers help us put on fun farm parties and other events. Groups can dig in to our work by volunteering with our food bank farm program, Veggies For All, in Unity. We are always open to creative ideas for collaboration and have worked with volunteer photographers and artists on a variety of projects. Hosting a community potluck or house party is another great way to engage your community around our work to grow a bright future for farming in Maine. Private donors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53% Private foundations grants . . . . . . . . . 41% Government grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6% TOP FUNDING SOURCES Amanda Beal President & CEO Taylor Mudge Board Chair, Co-owner, Ducktrap River Hops

• Cover