“The Rogers family has farmed this land for at least four generations and wanted to see it stay farmland forever, which is why they protected their land with SAHC through agricultural easements,” says Jess Laggis, SAHC’s farmland protection director. “Beyond all the beauty and ecosystem services this land protection provides, it also supports some of the kindest farmers you could meet in maintaining our mountain farming heritage.”

The tract is located in the Crabtree community and is highly visible from scenic drives along Crabtree Mountain Road and Upper Crabtree road, as well as from hikes on Crabtree Bald. The family has farmed the cove for more than 150 years, with the land featuring a mixture of high-elevation cattle grazing pasture and prime agricultural bottomlands. The state has designated both the Mark Rogers and the Terry & Fran Rogers properties as Century Farms.

“I’ve worked this land all my life,” said Terry Rogers, “working with both my paternal and maternal grandparents, as well as my own parents. I’ve seen the hard work my ancestors put into being good stewards of the properties, never holding a public job, but depending on the farm and woodland to make a living for their families. Like them, I have tried to be a good steward of what God has blessed me with, and I don’t want this beautiful property turned into a housing development in the future. Now that it’s protected by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, that won’t ever happen.”

Support for the project came from the Pigeon River Fund, a grant program administered by The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.