Henderson County  Farmland Preservation Taskforce: May 30, 2024  The Farmland Preservation Taskforce held a meeting on May 30, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the King Street Meeting  Room located at 1001 N. King Street.  Taskforce Member  Present  Absent  Commissioner Rebecca McCall, Chair Commissioner David Hill, Chair Hunter Marks-E Planning Board Danny McConnell - Soil & Water Conservation District Gary Steiner- NC Cooperative Extension Jimmy Cowan - NC Farm Bureau Joffrey Merrill - AgHC Jason Edney - At large Justin Patwin - At large Linda Pryor - At large Alan Ward -A Atla large Danielle McCall - At large Also present:  Randy Newman - Hendersonville Board of Realtors  Chris Todd, Business & Community Development Director Jonathan Wallin, Soil & Water Conservation District April Hoyt, Soil & Water Conservation District Dr. Terry Kelley, NC Cooperative Extension Kieran Roe, Conserving Carolina Tom Fanslow, Conserving Carolina  Autumn Radcliff, Planning Director LizHanson, PlannerI  Jeffrey Darnell, NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Commissioner Rebecca McCall, Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.  Adjustment and Approval ofAgenda:  Commissioner David Hill requested Agenda Item Cand B switch order. Taskforce member Randy Newman  moved to approve the minutes as amended. Motion carried. There was no public comment for this meeting.  Public Comment:  Adjustment and Approval of May 13,2024. Meeting Minutes:  Taskforce member Randy Newman moved to approve the May 13, 2024, Meeting Minutes as presented. Motion  carried. Discussion:  The Taskforce heard from several guest speakers during the meeting.    The Task force had previously requested Evan Davis from the NC Department of Agriculture. and Consumer Services (NC DACS), to attend as a guest speaker. Mr. Davis provided aj presentation (virtually) on Agricultural Conservation Easements and the NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (ADFPTF). Mr. Davis provided a comprehensive overview ofhow. Agricultural Conservation Easements function and the role ofNC DACS and the NC ADFPTF in preserving agricultural land throughout the state of North Carolina. After Mr. Davis's! presentation the Taskforce had the opportunity to ask questions and gain more information. Mr. Davis remained on the Microsoft Teams call for the duration oft the meeting to be available for The Taskforce also previously requested representatives from Conserving Carolina to present on their expertise and experience in Conservation Easements. Tom Fanslow, Land Protection Director for Conserving Carolina, presented first, followed by Kieran Roe, Executive Director of Conserving Carolina. Mr. Fanslow provided an overview ofConserving Carolina as an entity, their service area, past conservation projects, and their role in Agricultural Conservation Easements. An example budget for an Agricultural Conservation project, led by Conserving Carolina, was also presented to the Taskforce. Taskforce members had an opportunity to pose Commissioner Hill suggested continuing the remaining agenda items at ai future meeting due to time constraints. The taskforce will meet on June 10th at 6:00 PM in the King St Meeting Room at 100N. King Street. The Taskforce requested Staff to arrange guest speakers from the Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District and the NC Foundation for Soil and' Water Conservation, to present at the June 10, 2024, meeting.  any more questions from the Taskforce.  questions to Mr. Fanslow and Mr. Roe after their presentations.  Next Meeting:  Commissioner Hill motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 PM. Motion carried.  fadh  Commissioner Rebecca McCall, Chair and Commissioner David Hill, Chair  Henderson County Farmland Preservation Taskforce