Bedford Hills, NY—Westchester Land Trust (WLT), a nationally accredited land conservation nonprofit, held its annual benefit, Growing Our Future, on June 8 at Old Salem Farm in North Salem, NY and raised more than $440,000. The funds were generated through ticket sales, donations, a lively paddle raise, silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind experiences, and “Wine for Wildlands” wine pull fundraiser. The event celebrated farmland protection successes, agricultural changemakers, and the spirit of volunteering on the land. All funds raised at the benefit will support WLT’s land conservation mission, including land protection, stewardship, and community engagement programs.

“We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the generous support we received at our annual benefit this year while celebrating the vibrant agricultural systems that sustain our community and the people who care for the land that makes it all possible,” said Kara Whelan, president of WLT. “This year’s inspiring honorees, along with our business sponsors, community partners, leadership, volunteers, and guests, exemplify the difference that we can all make when we work together toward a brighter future.”

The event was held at historic Old Salem Farm and was planned with the help of an enthusiastic and talented benefit committee that includes co-chairs Jessica Watts and Jennifer Wege; honorary chair, Martha Stewart; as well as Alessandra Arango, Gianna Caiola, Colleen Canavan, Ava Cohn, Brendon Desimone, Annie Farrell, Amy Ferguson, Tobi Fradkin, Tana Gullotta, Patty Kravit, Susan Krog, Lee Manning-Vogelstein, Susan Markowitz, Nancy Nygreen, Ellen Reimer, Betsey Ryder, Jen Schwartz, Donna Schwartz, Karen Simons, and Mike Surdej.

Dr. Julia Ryder accepted the Preservation Award on behalf of the Ryder Family.

The Preservation Award was given to The Ryder family, owners and operators of Ryder Farm, the oldest working farm in Putnam County, who permanently protected their 128-acre farm through a conservation easement with Westchester Land Trust in 2023. Ryder Farm was established in 1795 by Eleazer Ryder and has been proudly stewarded by the family since then. Throughout its history, the farm, which is situated along Peach Lake, has been a working farm with a general store, a dairy farm, and a family leisure resort. Ryder Farm was an early adopter of the organic farming movement and sold its produce at the Union Square Greenmarket in New York City. The farm has more than 3,000 feet of frontage on Peach Lake and the protected land safeguards drinking water access, as the area drains into the Croton Reservoir system, which serves Westchester County and New York City.

Annie Farrell (center) received the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Kara Whelan (left), WLT president, and Janelle Robbins (right), WLT vice president of conservation.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Annie Farrell, a member of WLT’s Advisory Board, in recognition of her decades of agricultural innovation throughout the region and beyond. Farrell was born in New York City and spent summers at her family’s cottage along Peach Lake, located on the other side of the water body from Ryder Farm. She formed the Delaco Agricultural Co-op, and then established Annie’s, a business dedicated to providing organic specialty crops for restaurants. Farrell is the founder and director of CADE (the Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship), and she has harnessed her wealth of agricultural knowledge to help develop or revitalize countless farms across the region. Farrell has been an instrumental and inspiring advisor to WLT staff in their farmland protection and farmland matching work.

Mike Surdej (center) received the Community Volunteer Award, presented by Kara Whelan (left), WLT president, and Janelle Robbins (right), WLT vice president of conservation.

The Community Volunteer Award was given to Mike Surdej, a member of WLT’s Advisory Board, for his long-time volunteer efforts with the organization. Surdej has volunteered with WLT for more than 13 years across many preserves doing trail maintenance, tree plantings, invasive vine removals, building fences and bridges, creating nesting boxes and platforms for birds, and being the organization’s go-to handyman around the office. He has played a vital role in WLT’s land stewardship, land protection, and community engagement work and is a daily resource and support to WLT’s staff. He helped raise funds for, designed, and built the John Jay Community Trail in Cross River, serves on the Open Space and Preserves Advisory Committee (OSPAC) in Lewisboro, serves with the Lewisboro Trail Volunteers, and has mentored more than 25 Eagle Scouts with their final projects.

This year’s event featured grow bag centerpieces, which were given to Mount Vernon families after the thanks to the dedicated efforts of Free People’s Market and Westchester Latinos Unidos. Each grow bag will produce 15–20 pounds of fresh vegetables over the growing season.

The event was supported by the following business sponsors and community partners: by Aker Advisors, Cerity Partners, Glenmede, Old Salem Farm, Badey & Watson, Bedford Gourmet, Bedford Playhouse, the Inn at Bellefield, George Bianco, Nanette Bourne and John Delfs, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, Cask Fine and Rare Wines, Element Medical Aesthetics, Annie Farrell, Jacqueline Ferrari Heavens, Future Value Associates, The Glass House, Steve Grasso, Historic Hudson Valley, Insite, Jacob Burns Film Center, Jessica Watts Real Estate, Katonah Museum of Art, Dr. Robert Kohen, Leewood Beverage of White Plains, Northern Westchester Moms, Mount Kisco Wines & Spirits, Polaner Selections, Renee Ring, Robert Siegel Architects, Steve Snyder, Martha Stewart, Andrew Tow, Valley Bank, Alex Walsh, Westchester Ballet Company, Westchester Tree Life, The Withers Winery, Woodard & Curran, and Connect to Northern Westchester.

2024 Annual Benefit ‘Growing Our Future’ Honoree Video

We acknowledge that our region is within the traditional territories of the Lenape people and that their culture and traditions live on today. We strive to incorporate the priorities from Indigenous Peoples and underserved community members into our land conservation practices.