Bedford Hills, NY—Westchester Land Trust (WLT) invites the community to dance, play, and celebrate at its annual fall fundraiser, Reggae in the Barn, on Thursday, September 18 from 5:30–8:30 pm at the iconic red barn at Maple Grove Farm in Pound Ridge, NY.

The evening will be filled with tunes by the acclaimed group Rho & the Nomads, Caribbean-inspired food and drinks, an engaging silent auction, and activities for all ages, including lawn games and face painting for kids. All funds raised at Reggae in the Barn will support WLT’s land conservation mission, including farmland protection and WLT’s food-growing program at its headquarters, Sugar Hill Farm.

This year’s fundraiser comes at a critical moment for WLT. For more than a decade, the organization has grown vegetables in a volunteer-powered garden at Sugar Hill Farm in Bedford Hills, distributing over 85,000 servings of fresh produce to Westchester families in need through partnerships with local food pantries. After losing a key source of this program’s funding in 2025, WLT is turning to the community to help sustain this vital vegetable distribution program.

“Our farm garden has been a lifeline for so many Westchester families,” said Kara Whelan, president of WLT. “We are determined to keep it thriving despite this year’s funding setback. Reggae in the Barn is more than a fun night out. It’s a chance for people to come together, celebrate the land, and make sure our neighbors continue to have access to fresh, healthy food, along with sustaining nature preserves across the county.”

Twenty percent of the 9,300 acres WLT has protected is comprised of farmland or prime farmland soils.  Farmland and food security remain an important part of the organization’s mission. In addition to land protection, WLT actively partners with farmers, landowners, and community organizations to strengthen local food systems and expand access to nutritious food.

“It’s an evening of music, food, games, and joy, but it’s also an evening with purpose,” said Susan Leighton, director of development and engagement at WLT. “Everyone who joins us can feel proud knowing their good time directly supports the farms and gardens that feed our neighbors, and the trails and preserves that we all love.”

Tickets for Reggae in the Barn are available now at westchesterlandtrust.org. For sponsorship opportunities or more information, contact Susan Leighton at susan@westchesterlandtrust.org or 914-234-6992, ext. 23.

Westchester Land Trust acknowledges that our region is within the traditional territories of the Lenape people and that their culture and traditions live on today.