The Trustees of Reservations and New Marlborough Land Trust have partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, and Berkshire Agricultural Ventures to protect Blue Hill Farm, a 242-acre farm in New Marlborough, and make the property affordable for a New England farm family.

The project permanently protects the farmland, keeps it in active agricultural use, and enables Pat and Kelly McNiff of Pat’s Pastured to become the farm’s new owners. The effort was made possible by the Goodnow family, who owned the farm for decades and wanted to see it permanently protected, as well as support from Mass Audubon’s 30×30 Catalyst Fund, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, and the Nion Robert Thieriot Foundation. The Thieriot Foundation’s confidence in the project’s vision and early financial support provided the necessary stability for the successful development of the project. The Goodnow family’s commitment to conserving the property allowed the partners time and space to come together and structure a deal that secures the farm’s future. Berkshire Agricultural Ventures played a pivotal role in supporting the farm transition by working closely with the McNiffs since the beginning to provide financial and technical support to help guide the project.

“A beautiful legacy Berkshire farm is now a vibrant modern farmstead,” said Martha Bryan, Director of New Marlborough Land Trust (NMLT). “Farmland is central to New Marlborough’s landscape, economy, and community. NMLT was able to guide a complex project alongside The Trustees and other local partners to protect this farm for the future. We are grateful for the Goodnow family’s long-standing commitment to conservation in New Marlborough and for actively working to preserve our town’s agricultural heritage.”

“We are grateful to New Marlborough Land Trust for bringing this opportunity to our attention and for their leadership throughout the project,” said Katie Theoharides, President and CEO of The Trustees. “The conservation of Blue Hill Farm required creative partnership, careful coordination, and sustained support from the local community and our many partners. Together, we were able to navigate a complex project and help ensure this fertile land remains available for farming.”

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has purchased a perpetual Agricultural Preservation Restriction on the property, protecting the land and ensuring that it remains in active agricultural use. “The Agricultural Preservation Restriction program continues to be a powerful tool for safeguarding farmland in Massachusetts from development,” saidMDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “Successes like the preservation of Blue Hill Farm are made possible through MDAR’s strong collaborative partnerships. We are deeply grateful to The Trustees, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, New Marlborough Land Trust, Mass Audubon, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, and all our partners for their dedication to keeping our agricultural lands affordable and accessible.”

New Marlborough Land Trust and Berkshire Natural Resources Council will hold a deed restriction on the farmhouse parcel ensuring that the farm’s residence will remain as part of the farm and affordable for future farmers. “Protecting the affordability of the farmstead is essential to keeping Blue Hill Farm viable as a working farm,” said Nick Pitel, Director of Conservation for Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC). “By keeping the land, buildings, and infrastructure together, this project helps ensure that future farmers will have access to the full foundation they need to continue farming here.”

“Like so many important conservation successes, this project has been a long time in the making, and took many partners, each bringing their expertise, resources, and commitment to the table,” said BNRC President Jenny Hansell. “BNRC is proud to work alongside our statewide conservation partners, like The Trustees and Mass Audubon, while partnering with local land trusts like New Marlborough Land Trust, whose trusted relationships with landowners help bring conservation visions to life.”

“We are excited to be a partner and help to fund the permanent protection of the Blue Hill Farm through our 30×30 Catalyst Fund,” said David O’Neill, President and CEO of Mass Audubon. “Mass Audubon is thrilled to see that this farm will remain working for future generations and serving the ecological and economic interests of the Berkshires community.”

The combined effort has protected the land and made it affordable for a working farm family. Pat and Kelly McNiff, who own and operate Pat’s Pastured, a farm operation based in Rhode Island, are the new landowners of Blue Hill Farm. “Owning Blue Hill Farm gives us the opportunity to begin the next chapter of our farm in the Berkshires on secure land that will remain protected for agriculture,” said Pat and Kelly McNiff of Pat’s Pastured. “We are deeply grateful to the Goodnow family and to the many partners who made this possible, and we hope our long-standing commitment to regenerative agriculture, land stewardship, and building resilient local food systems made us worthy of that trust. This project gives our family and farm a secure future while helping ensure that Blue Hill Farm remains a thriving working farm for generations to come. As we make this thoughtful transition, we look forward to continuing to serve our customers and communities while strengthening the agricultural vitality of the Berkshires region.”