By Katie Ware
West Central Ohio Land Conservancy (WCOLC), Executive Director
[email protected]

As the West Central Ohio Land Conservancy (WCOLC) enters its 20th year, we are proud to celebrate an important milestone for land conservation in our region: the completion of our first agricultural conservation easement in Hancock County!

Working with a local landowner, WCOLC recently protected a 39-acre family farm through a conservation easement. This agreement allows the land to remain privately owned and actively farmed while ensuring it will never be converted to non-agricultural development. It reflects a long-term commitment to keeping productive farmland in agriculture and protecting the character of our rural landscape for generations to come.

In addition to privately arranged easements, farmers in our region may also benefit from programs such as the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Local Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (LAEPP), which provides funding to permanently protect productive farmland. In fact, the same landowner who partnered with WCOLC to protect the initial 39 acres is now working with us to pursue LAEPP funding to conserve an additional 160 acres of farmland.

This progress comes at an exciting time for our organization. For 19 years, WCOLC operated through the dedication of committed volunteers. Recently, with support from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, we were able to establish our first Executive Director position, allowing us to expand outreach and strengthen partnerships with landowners across the region.

Today, WCOLC serves Hancock, Allen, Auglaize, Hardin, Mercer, Putnam, and Van Wert counties. Together with members, supports, and landowners, we have preserved approximately 3,148 acres of agricultural land and natural areas, including farmland, woodlands, wetlands, and other open spaces.  

Our mission is simple: preserving and protecting agricultural land and natural areas. As we celebrate this first easement in Hancock County, we are reminded that lasting conservation happens through community partnerships and the dedication of landowners who want their land to remain productive and protected for generations to come.

To learn more about conservation easements or farmland preservation opportunities, visit us at www.wcolc.org or reach out by email. If you would like to support our Keep it Growing: 20 Years and Counting spring campaign and our work protecting land in our region, you can also make a donation through our website.

Together, we are making meaningful progress toward preserving the landscapes that define northwest Ohio forever!