Cheryl Prince Brotherton of Dryden, Tompkins County, NY

Why did you choose to conserve your land?  What motivated you?

I wanted to protect and conserve the land not only for future generations, but for all the wildlife that has called it home. The biggest motivation was to honor my grandparents and parents for all the hard work and struggles they endured over the years, making the best life ever for us all.

How did you conserve your land?

I had been looking for ways to conserve the property, and while attending a meeting, a fellow land owner told me about the Finger Lakes Land Trust. With the help of the Land Trust, I worked closely with Kris West and many others. Without their hard work, I wouldn’t have been able to do this. I would also like to acknowledge the help of the Town of Dryden, Tompkins County, and other anonymous donors.

What makes your land so special to you?

I have many cherished memories of my family and growing up on the family farm. We followed my dad and grandfather around all day, sitting on their laps while they drove the tractors, and in the barn at chore time. The neighborhood kids would spend days playing and working on the farm, camping out at night in the fields or woods. During the summers, we sold sweet corn by the side of the road which began when my father was a young boy. My grandfather taught us how to drive in a Ford Falcon, driving back and forth from the field to pick sweet corn. I couldn’t ask for a better life than growing up on our farm. I miss those days.

Henry Prince, Cheryl’s grandfather