Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com


Twenty years after hosting its first grassroots event in an aircraft hangar, the Livingston Land Conservancy’s annual live fundraiser is set next month.

“Land on the Horizon” will take place on Friday, October 11th at Chemung Hills Golf and Banquet Center in Howell. The event begins at 7pm and is described as “fun, fast-paced and lively”. It features live and silent auctions, raffles, a wine pull, a chef-prepared dinner buffet and cash bar.

The evening will celebrate the natural beauty and rural character of the Livingston County area and support the over 750 acres of quality natural areas and productive farmland properties the LLC protects.

The Conservancy preserves land as owned nature preserves or as conservation easements on behalf of private landowners. Highlights of the evening will include a presentation on the Conservancy’s recent Charles & Albert Parker Families Nature Preserve Restoration and Public Access Project owned by the Brighton District Library, and an update on pending land protection projects.

Individual tickets are $75 each if purchased by September 27th, and $85 each after. Tickets can be purchased at www.livingstonlandconservancy.org or by calling 810-229-3290.

Sponsors and donated auction items are also being accepted.

All net proceeds from the event go to the Conservancy’s Land Acquisition and Stewardship funds that support 17 different protected properties in Livingston County.

An all-volunteer non-profit founded in 1994, the Livingston Land Conservancy’s mission is to protect the natural heritage and rural character of the greater Livingston County area by preserving natural lands and productive farmland, and to promote an appreciation and understanding of the environment for the long-term benefit of the public. The organization is completely self-supporting by memberships and donations and receives no financial funding from taxpayers or municipalities.

President Sara Thomas says the event is instrumental to the non-profit in order to raise funds for land stewardship and acquisition, noting it’s really their only fundraiser and they have great supporters and volunteers.

Thomas told WHMI that demand for preserving land has gone up significantly and they’re being contacted very frequently by people who want to protect their farm or woodlands. She said currently they’re either researching, or are in some state of acquiring to preserve long term, at least seven or more properties. Thomas said the interest is significant from people who truly care about protecting land, water quality, woods, and wildlife habitat or farms want to leave a legacy – adding that the turnover of land use in terms of farming is becoming concerning.

The Conservancy will also be hosting its annual meeting virtually on Monday, September 16th Monday at 6:30pm, with updates on the Parker Preserve. Anyone interested in attending can email Livingstonlandconservancy@gmail.com for the Zoom link.

Thomas will be a future guest on WHMI’s Viewpoint program, which can be accessed in the “podcast” section of our website.