J.B. Birdsall (holding trophy) is flanked by the Farmington Masters (l-r) Carol Easter, Pat Butterfield, and Joy Crompton. Cheryl Microutsicos photo
The Farmington Hunt and J.B. Birdsall received the 2011 Hunting Habitat Conservation Award at the MFHA Annual Meeting in New York City on Friday January 28.
Each year with each recipient of this award we witness yet another testament to the role of foxhunting in the preservation of open space. Arguably no other sporting culture has done as much to preserve land and natural habitat.
But, it often takes a leader, an individual driving force, to establish a culture of conservation within an organization. J.B. Birdsall—longtime foxhunter, landowner, and hunt member—provided that passion, commitment, and leadership for the Farmington Hunt to become a force for open space conservation in their hunting country.
The statistics are impressive:
• More than 65,000 acres of land are protected by conservation easements in the Farmington Hunt country, half of which are owned by Farmington Hunt subscribers and their families.
• Thirteen Farmington Hunt members have served or currently serve on conservancy boards, planning commissions, or other conservation-oriented agencies.
• Twenty-three hunt fixtures are protected by conservation easements.
• Two Farmington Hunt members (Birdsall is one) serve on the board of the renowned Piedmont Environmental Council, one of the nation’s most active and successful conservancies.
• Albemarle County, the location of the Farmington Hunt, ranks second in Virginia for the percentage of land in conservation easement.
The Farmington Hunt has been a prominent community institution in Albemarle County, Virginia since its establishment in 1929. Masters, officers, directors, and most voting members of the hunt have their principal residences within the hunt’s registered territory or in the nearby Charlottesville area. Obviously, they take great pride in the natural beauty and historical importance of their country by demonstrating their determination to preserve it.
Previous winners of the Hunting Habitat Conservation Award have been the Arapahoe Hunt (CO), Blue Ridge Hunt (VA), Elkridge-Harford Hunt (MD), Four Winds Foxhounds (FL), Genesee Valley Hunt (NY), Green Spring Valley Hounds (MD), Iroquois Hunt (KY), Live Oak Hounds (FL), Millbrook Hunt (NY), Moore County Hounds (NC), Orange County Hunt (VA), Wentworth Hunt (NH), and Low Country Hunt (SC) and the Low Country Open Land Trust.
Posted February 18, 2011
The Hunting Habitat Conservation Trophy was presented by J.W.Y. “Duck” Martin, MFH to J.B. Birdsall and the Farmington Masters. Elizabeth Sutton who prepared the hunt’s nomination is shown second from the left. Cheryl Microutsicos photo