For Jon Ostrowski, farming is not just a livelihood, it’s a life rooted deeply in place. His farm in the Town of Champion is where he hopes to spend the rest of his days with his wife, LuAnn, and their dog, Shadow.
“I love the land,” Jon says simply. “When you farm it, you know every inch of it. I tell everyone I want to live and die here on this property. That’s my dream.”
That dream of keeping the farm intact has been strengthened by conservation. In 2013, Jon placed a conservation easement held by Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust on his property to ensure the land would remain farmland. Recently, he decided to apply for another easement on an additional parcel facing development pressures. For Jon, the choice reflects both practical realities
and deeply held values.
“Once you take the land away and put houses on it, you can’t very easily put it back,” he says. “We need land to farm. You can’t subdivide everywhere. It’s sad to see some of these lands get developed.”
The easement has helped Jon to keep the farm together, even as agriculture evolves and financial pressures mount. “We’re farming it a bit differently, but we’re able to keep it all together and keep farming. The conservation easement has helped us do that.”
Importantly, Jon notes that the easement hasn’t changed the day-to-day work of the farm. “It doesn’t affect the way I farm,” he says. Instead, it provides stability, helping him stay in business while protecting the land from future development. The additional easement also brings financial and tax benefits that support the long-term viability of the operation.
Beyond the farm itself, Jon sees the broader impact. “I think it helps the whole community to keep farmland as farmland,” he says. “If farmers run out of land, then we’ve got a problem. By helping farmers, we’re helping the whole community.” Protected farmland supports local food systems, preserves green spaces, and contributes to environmental health.
A Place That Means More Than Farming
Yet conservation is deeply personal, too. Down by the creek, a small waterfall provides a quiet spot where Jon and his family gather for evening campfires. It’s one of many corners of the farm that hold meaning beyond production.
Looking ahead, Jon hopes the farm will stay much as it is today. “Hopefully it stays just the way it is,” he says. Passing the land on to future generations is a big part of that hope. “I would love for my grandkids to farm this land someday. With the way things are, you never know, but it would be nice to pass it on.”
Through conservation, that possibility feels more secure. Jon’s commitment reflects the power of partnerships between landowners, the land trust, and supporters who make farmland protection possible. Together, they ensure that farms like his remain working landscapes, providing food, sustaining families, and benefiting the community for generations to come.
Is conservation right for you, or someone you know?
Would you like to protect your land? Do you know someone who might be interested in protecting their farm, woodlands, or wetlands?
People protect their land for a variety of reasons. For many, it’s a way to ensure their love of the land will remain intact after they leave. For others, it’s a way to honor their parents and grandparents. Sometimes it helps with estate planning or financial management plans.
If you would like to explore if conservation is right for you and your family, contact John Souva, Conservation Director at 315-779-8240 or email jsouva@tughilltomorrowlandtrust.org.
All conversations are confidential to provide your family the privacy it needs to make a decision that is right for you.
