Faced with tremendous challenges related to the pandemic, encroaching development and rising costs, local farmers and forest landowners need support now more than ever. That’s why Wake County is continuing its 17-year tradition of hosting the “Keeping the Farm” Workshop, a free, half-day seminar offering experts and resources on everything from environmental regulations to taxes and farm succession planning.

This year’s event will take place virtually on Wednesday, March 23, from 8:30 a.m. to noon and will be streamed LIVE on Wake County’s YouTube and Facebook page. Typically, hundreds of farmers and conservation professionals attend the symposium, organized by the Wake County Soil & Water Conservation District to provide impactful strategies to preserve farms, forests and open space.

“We have farmers who have been attending this workshop every single year since its inception, and they’ve told us that what they have taken away from this workshop has saved their family farms,” said Sig Hutchinson, Chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners. “These are sixth and seventh generation family farmers and we’re committed to keeping up this support for them.”

Despite the county’s rapid growth, many are surprised by the amount of agricultural land that still exists in Wake County. Staff of the Soil and Water Conservation department work tirelessly in the interests of the nearly 691 farms and more than 77,000 acres of farmland in Wake County.

“Sustainability, conservation and preservation of farmland will be in the spotlight of this year’s Keeping the Farm workshop,” said Teresa Furr, Soil & Water Conservation Director. “We bring together many different resources and professionals to help farm and forest landowners keep and protect their land for generations to come.”

Other topics for 2022 include updates on changes to the tax code, estate planning, legal challenge protections and registration of deeds.