When Don Butler moved to his family's farm in Northumberland, New York, at age 7, the property's large red barn, marked with 1887 on its slate roof, was still the primary barn. Decades later, much has changed around the farm, from the decline of smaller dairy operations to growing pressure from development and solar projects. According to a report by WAMC Northeast Public Radio, 75 acres of the Butler Family Farm have now been placed under a conservation easement with Saratoga PLAN, permanently protecting the land for agricultural use. Butler and his family members told WAMC about the farm's history, the changes they have witnessed and why preserving the property has become increasingly important.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
