Leep Family Farm

Easement
Created By:

Leep Family

Location:

Amsterdam-Churchill

Size:

848 acres

Easement
Funded By:

Gallatin County Open Land Program
Natural Resource Conservation Service

Protected Since:

2006 & 2009

The Leep family has been farming in Amsterdam-Churchill since the late 19th century. But it wasn’t this history that the family wanted to protect with a conservation easement: it was their future. The Leeps turned to GVLT for help protecting their farming operation for the long term, so that their children and grandchildren could carry on the family’s agricultural tradition. The financial benefits of their easements have allowed them to purchase additional acreage to add to their farming operation, further protecting priceless open space and supporting agricultural values in the region. All told, the Leeps have donated two easements to GVLT, conserving nearly 850 acres of prime farmland framed by the Bridger, Gallatin, and Tobacco Root mountains.

“This ground should never grow houses. It should stay in agriculture. It is important that these properties are conserved now. This is the time. They won’t be here 50 years from now.” Sherwin Leep