Much of Northeast Georgia -- and particularly counties surrounding Athens-Clarke County, home of the University of Georgia -- have experienced rapid growth and increasing development pressure during the past several decades. Rising land values have made it difficult for family farms to survive, and many farmers have resorted to selling their lands for commercial and/or residential development.

Athens Land Trust

Oconee Partnership for Farmland Protection

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (Georgia Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program)

Georgia Natural Resources Greenspace Program

Oconee County

Allen and Ann Powers

The Athens Land Trust (ALT) and the Oconee Partnership for Farmland Protection (OPFP) have worked since 1995 and 1999, respectively, to identify alternatives for the area's farmers who would prefer that their land remain in agricultural use. Both organizations strive to see the area's farm properties protected.

Working together, ALT and OPFP were able to secure funds from Georgia's Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) to place a conservation easement on a portion of the Breedlove-Powers Farm, a fourth-generation cattle and hay farm in Oconee County just south of Athens. A grant made by NRCS was matched by funds provided by Oconee County (through the Georgia Natural Resources Greenspace Program) and the farm's owners, Allen and Ann Powers. As a result, a total of 57.6 acres of the 354-acre Breedlove-Powers Farm will forever be protected as productive farmland.