New Hampshire Farmers are First Northeastern Family to Win National Prize
Winners of the American Farmland Trust's (AFT) 2003 Steward of the Land Award

John and Lorraine Merrill of Stratham, New Hampshire, have won American Farmland Trust's (AFT) 2003 Steward of the Land Award, the largest nationwide award for land stewardship. The Merrills were chosen out of 117 applications from 41 states to win the $10,000 prize, which was presented to them for their lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship, public education, policy activism and farmland protection.

"For decades, the Merrills have been devoted to protecting not just their farmland, but water, wildlife habitat and natural resources on the farm," said AFT President Ralph Grossi. "They truly are stewards of our land and a great inspiration to farmers across the nation."

Stuart Farm is situated in the Great Bay Estuary region, a coastal habitat that encompasses more than 10,000 acres of tidal waters and is considered one of the most important estuarine systems on the East Coast. The Merrills have gone to great lengths to ensure that this fragile ecosystem remains intact: they constructed a freshwater wetland to treat waste runoff, and cooperated with Partners for Fish and Wildlife to restore a salt marsh on their farm.

"The restored salt marsh on the Stuart Farm is one of the most thoroughly researched on the East Coast and has become a model for similar efforts," said Bruce Marriott, retired agriculture program leader at University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, who nominated the Merrills for AFT's award.

The Merrills operation, Stuart Farm, is a 200-cow dairy farm that is run by John and Lorraine, in partnership with their son Nathan and daughter-in-law, Judy. They were early pioneers in rotational grazing and other conservation practices, and their family was among the first in the state to permanently protect their farm with an agricultural conservation easement in 1981.

"It was wall-to-wall dairy farms when we first moved here," said Lorraine, who noted that there used to be more cows that people in the town. The farm moved to its current location in 1961 after construction of an interstate highway forced her family out of northern Massachusetts. Today, Stuart Farm is the only dairy farm remaining in Stratham.

The family's environmental achievements were accomplished with the help of state and federal conservation programs that encourage stewardship on private lands. They have also partnered with numerous local and state conservation organizations. Whether it's hosting a national Environmental Protection Agency tour or being featured in a nationally distributed video by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Merrills know that to truly champion conservation activities, education must play a central role.

"Farmers certainly need to exchange ideas and success stories, but it's important for the non-farm community to understand the positive contributions of agriculture as well," said Lorraine. "Many University of New Hampshire classes visit our farm for education and research, and students and recent graduates do work for us as well. They bring a wealth of new ideas and are not afraid to challenge our thinking. We enjoy being part of the research and development of knowledge in agriculture and natural resources."

The Family's multi-generational commitment to conservation and agriculture continues, as Nathan is also involved with state and local farmland protection and education efforts. "We have always felt that raising our children is the most significant thing we do in our lives," said Lorraine, "It's so rewarding to see how Nate has already taken a leadership role in farmland protection at the state and local level."

"I have know and worked with John and Lorraine for the past 21 years, and they represent the very best in service to conservation and the public good in this state," said Steve Taylor, New Hampshire's commissioner of agriculture. "A hallmark of their work has ben their commitment to cooperation with regulatory agencies and aggressive adoption of strategies that minimize environmental impact of their agriculture activities.

Despite efforts the Merrills have undertaken to remain profitable and keep the land healthy, they, like other New England dairy farmers, are facing the financial fall-out from the expiration the the Northeast Dairy Compact and the lowest farm milk prices since the 1970s.

"Much of New England's farmland is at serious risk this year given the situation in the dairy industry," said Cris Coffin, AFT's New England policy manager. "Funding for farmland protection is more critical than ever. We urge state legislators to fund the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) at $6 million a year, and urge the Congressional delegation to do all it can to increase the state's share of federal conservation dollars."

The Steward of the Land Award was created in 1997 in honor of farmer and conservationist Peggy McGrath Rockefeller, a founding AFT board member who cared deeply about protection and conservation of the nation's farm and ranch land.