The American Farmland Trust (AFT) today honored Tom Hutson, a dairy farmer from DeLancey, NY, with their annual Steward of the Land award. Hutson received a check for $10,000 at a presentation on the steps of City Hall.

“Tom has always understood how his farm’s stakeholders include not only the consumers of his products but the residents of New York City, whose clean drinking water depends on environmentally friendly agriculture,” said Ralph Grossi, President of American Farmland Trust. “Tom both works the land and sustains it.”

Hutson operates River Haven Farm in New York’s Catskill Mountains where he has 380 acres and a herd of 108 Holsteins. He raises corn, alfalfa hay, grass hay, along with oats and barley for grain, and straw for bedding. There are 57 acres of hardwood forest on the farm. He also raises Hi-HO’s, a Holstein-Scottish Highland beef cattle cross.

Hutson was one of the first farmers to participate in pilot programs administered by the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) to reduce organic pollution in the Catskill/Delaware reservoir systems. He installed buffer and filter strips, permanent rows of vegetation that slow water runoff and erosion of riverbanks, and also filter out damaging substances from the water supply.

In 2002, Hutson protected his farm with a conservation easement acquired by the WAC, which allows him and future owners of River Haven Farm to continue working the land while limiting any future development and subdivision of his property. This will ensure that New Yorkers enjoy clean water and wildlife habitat in perpetuity including the bald eagles that nest in a huge sycamore tree on his farm.

Hutson has shared his experiences with his peers and advocates through numerous on-farm demonstrations and speaking to countless visitors, media and groups. His one-on-one consultations with other farmers have resulted in numerous applications to the WAC Easement program.

Fred Huneke, Chair of the WAC, added his praise for Hutson’s efforts. “New York City faced a looming crisis in 1990 spending billions of dollars to build and operate a water filtration system. Instead, they came up with a novel plan to protect the water supply and keep it clean: by partnering with farmers like Tom who work to manage their farms in environmentally positive ways. Tom has encouraged farmers in the watershed to join him in these efforts and that’s meant the City has been spared a huge financial burden.”

“Tom is a champion of good agriculture leading and showing by example on his farm how you can provide consumers with food and environmental benefits and attract wildlife at the same time,” adds Ralph Grossi, “he is a true steward of the land and a great inspiration to farmers across the country.”

Established in 1997, AFT’s Steward of the Land Award recognizes the American farmer or farm family who best demonstrates leadership in protecting farmland and caring for the environment. The award honors the memory of Peggy McGrath Rockefeller, an avid farmer and conservationist who helped found AFT. Hutson is the tenth farmer to win this award.