DURHAM N.C.-, – On Feb 19, Clara Glenn enrolled her historic farm in a conservation easement under the Agricultural Land Easements (ALE), a component of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) that protects the long-term viability of the nation’s food supply by preventing conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses. On Feb 11 Mrs. Glenn turned 101, as the oldest easement landowner in the county, this makes her signature even more poignant. For Mrs. Glenn, the significance of her signing into a conservation easement is about securing the family legacy.

“If the land had been in the family for over 100 years, why wouldn’t I want to keep it in there,” said Mrs. Clara Glenn when asked about why it was important to enroll her farm in the easement program. 

The Clara Glenn farm is a former tobacco farm that is a mixture of forests and fields. The Glenns are renovating and restoring the open land and have fruit trees, vegetables, and bees. The Glenn farm was originally owned by Lucious Glenn, who was the patriarch of the extended Glenn family, including descendants who still own multiple parcels along Hampton Road. Three generations of Glenns – Mrs. Clara Glenn, her daughter Cynthia, and her granddaughter Dr. Diana Cejas – are united in the goal of keeping the farm as a working farm. Two members of the extended Glenn family, Mr. Douglas Daye and Mr. Alston Glenn, have farmland near and south of Mrs. Clara Glenn’s land that is also protected by conservation easements through Durham County. 

Many animals call the farm and the surrounding area home. White-tailed deer, Eastern cottontail rabbit, red and gray fox, flying and gray squirrels, and other typical small mammals are year-round residents on the farm. Bird species include wild turkey, Cooper’s hawk (state listed of special concern), Black vulture (state listed of special concern), hairy and pileated woodpeckers, Bobwhite quail, Meadowlark, Bobolink, and a variety of woodland and edge songbirds. Red-tail hawks, Red-shouldered hawks, Rough-legged hawks, and Barred owls have also been noted in the area. Additionally, much of Clara Glenn’s farm is within a “Highest Priority” wildlife habitat patch identified in a 2023 analysis of wildlife habitat connectivity in Durham County.

Since the 1990’s Durham County has made significant strides in protecting vital ecosystems through several means of acquisition. These include fee-simple acquisition and by purchasing developing rights like ALE. To date, the county’s Open Space Program has protected 4,232 acres of land. More than half of this acreage is protected by easements. Thanks to farmers like Mrs. Clara Glenn, 89% of these conservation easements are working farms and forestland.

“Durham County is deeply grateful for Mrs. Glenn’s commitment to preserving her land and the legacy of her family farm. It is a privilege and honor to work alongside landowners like Mrs. Glenn, whose vision and dedication will benefit Durham County for generations to come. Farm easements like this are critical to protecting agricultural land, supporting local farmers, and ensuring that farming remains a vital part of our community,” said Celeste Burns, Open Space/Real Estate Manager for Engineering & Environmental Services of Durham County.

Without farmers like Mrs. Glenn, many habitats like these would most likely be developed and paved over in favor of residential and commercial areas. Durham County itself is expected to lose an estimated 1,600 acres of farmland. Sadly, this has been a growing trend in North Carolina.  According to a study by the American Farmland Trust, North Carolina could lose roughly 20% of its 8 million acres of farmland to development happening across the state by 2040. This puts the state second, only to Texas in farmland lost to development. More alarming, North Carolina is ranked Number One across the nation for farmland loss to low density residential development. 

Farmland preservation is a top priority for the United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Land protected by agricultural land easements provides additional public benefits, including environmental quality, historic preservation, wildlife habitat and protection of open space. Since its inception and through legacy programs like the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program and Grassland Reserve Program, NRCS has protected over 2.2 million acres via easements, including some 440,000 acres under the current ALE framework. Of course, none of this would be possible without the voluntary participation of landowners like Mrs. Glenn. 

“Landowners like Mrs. Glenn are taking steps throughout the state to protect their land and legacy, and our agency is proud to be a partner as they ensure the land remains in agriculture for generations to come,” said Brian Loadholt, Assistant State Conservationist for Easements.

For 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.

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