McKenzie, TN -    The Land Trust for Tennessee announced today that the historic farm located in McKenzie, Tennessee owned by the Holland and Harris families since 1829 will be protected forever through the donation of a conservation easement to The Land Trust for Tennessee. The first conservation easement on farmland in the area, it is the result of a family's dedication to the land, to the farming way of life and to their community's future.

Nancy Holland continues to work on the farm with her husband, 90 year-old Kermit Holland.

"This farm and the land mean everything to us.  We don't know what we would do if we could not pass this farm down to our family to continue to care for it.  Working with The Land Trust for Tennessee has given us the confidence to know that our dreams can be realized for more generations of Hollands to farm this land," said Nancy Holland.

The farm is 200 acres of row crops and pasture for their cattle, interspersed with small areas of woodland. It is in the midst of the community of McKenzie and will be an oasis of green as the community continues to grow. The next generation of this family is raising their children on the farm and they are active participants in the farm operation.

Jack Holland was the first in the family to contact The Land Trust and his sister, Jill Holland, has been the family contact throughout the process of completing the conservation easement.  It has been truly a family affair with care and thought for future generations.

As committed family farmers, the Holland family knows better than anyone the labor of love that is a part of farming life. 

"It is a way of life," said Jill Holland, "and not an easy one, but we are so fortunate to be able to take this step to show other farm families that there is a way to keep the land from development, and to meet the family's needs while doing something important for the community. Our kids have had the chance to learn from an early age that hard work means something.  We want to ensure that their family's history will be preserved in the future."

Jean Nelson, president and executive director of The Land Trust, wholeheartedly agrees with Jill and Nancy Holland. "The Hollands are a wonderful family to serve as leaders in conserving Tennessee's family farms.  They know the reality of farming and also the importance of protecting this valuable resource of agricultural land and their family's legacy. Each year, Tennessee is losing important agricultural land to other uses at one of the highest rates in the nation," said Nelson.   "It is important for The Land Trust and farmers to work together on voluntary options to keep land available for farming in the future."

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