| MARCH 2, 2010 -- Each fall, the Working Lands Alliance and the Connecticut Trustees of the Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) recognize individuals and groups that have significantly advanced farmland preservation through leadership, advocacy, planning, and education. The 2009 Farmland Preservation Pathfinder winners were Gordon Gibson, for Outstanding Individual, and Eastern Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development Area for Outstanding Group.
Representing the Connecticut State Grange, Gordon Gibson ( a member of Vernon Grange) has been a tireless advocate for farmland preservation since the 1970's. He joined the Working Lands Alliance in 1999 and has served more than 7 years on its steering committee. He also helped launch the Connecticut Farmland Trust which is dedicated to working with landowners to protect farms.
Since 2002 the Eastern Connecticut RC&D Council has dedicated itself to promote and improve the viability of Connecticut farms. Recent activities of the RC&D Council include the popular "Connecticut Tour des Farms" bike ride, the AgVocate circuit rider project in nine communities to encourage farm-friendly town policies and bylaws, and research in four communities to determine the public's willingness to pay for farmland preservation.
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