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· collected 2026-09-06 · by TOI World Desk
Jeff and Betsy Yingling purchased a 101-acre property in Freedom Township, Pennsylvania in 2024, with plans to preserve it forever before the sale was even finalized. The preservation easement was completed in August 2026 with funding from multiple sources, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Adams County Parks, Recreation and Green Space Grant Program. The protected land includes 64 wooded acres and 35.5 acres of cropland, which will continue to provide habitat for wildlife and support agricultural traditions. According to the Yinglings, the process required patience and a long-term view, but was worth it as they can now enjoy watching wildlife and experiencing the changing landscape from their home.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Jeff and Betsy Yingling, a couple from Pennsylvania, purchased 101 acres in Freedom Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania in 2024. Before the sale was even finalized, they began thinking about preserving the land for future generations. The property offered open views and a peaceful setting, which drew them to it. After moving in, the Yinglings watched as the scenery changed with each season and saw wildlife on their property. They wanted to ensure that their children and grandchildren could enjoy the rural character of the land, so they decided to place a preservation easement on the property through organizations like We Conserve PA and The Land Conservancy of Adams County. This move was made possible by funding from the US Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service through its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
Written for “Conservation Efforts on Private Land” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
In the fall of 2024, Jeff and Betsy Yingling were preparing to become landowners in Freedom Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.
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Yingling → prepare → Township
The property they found was only a few miles from their previous home and was located in the area they called their hometown.
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they → find → area
According to We Conserve PA, the couple was drawn to the land because of its open views and peaceful setting.
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couple → accord → views
Even before the sale was final, they had started thinking about how they could protect the property for the future.
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they → start → future
After moving in, their connection with the land grew with each season.
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connection → move → season
They watched the scenery change throughout the year and saw wildlife around their home.
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scenery → watch → home
One moment that stayed with them was watching their youngest son call in turkeys from their back porch during spring mornings and evenings.
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son → stay → mornings
Those experiences made the Yinglings want to ensure that their children, and even their future grandchildren, could enjoy the property and its rural character.
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children → make → property
They decided that placing a preservation easement on the land was the right way to protect it.
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placing → decide → it
The Yinglings decided to permanently protect the 101-acre property by placing a preservation easement on it.
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Yinglings → decide → it
The Land Conservancy of Adams County announced the preservation, which was finalised in August 2026.
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which → announce → August
It permanently protects conservation values on a property, including ecological, scenic, wildlife or agricultural resources.
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It → protect → resources
For the Yinglings, the decision was also connected to their desire to be good stewards of the land.
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decision → connect → land
They have implemented a forest management plan while working to retain the rural character that first attracted them to the property.
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that → implement → property
The preserved land includes about 64 wooded acres and 35.5 acres of cropland.
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land → preserve → cropland
According to the Land Conservancy, the property will continue to provide habitat for people and animals, support an agricultural tradition and preserve its rural scenery.
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property → accord → scenery
A long-term decision
The Yinglings said the process of protecting their land required patience and a long-term view.
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process → say → patience
“It’s important to think long-term.
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The preservation process is just that,” they said.
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they → say → ?
The process took time, but the couple continued working towards their goal of permanently protecting the property.
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couple → take → property
They said the result was worth it.
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result → say → ?
From their home, they have been able to watch wildlife and experience the changing landscape through the seasons.
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they → watch → seasons
The couple believes that protecting the land gives their neighbours too, a lasting piece of peaceful, rural beauty.
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protecting → believe → beauty
Funding the conservation
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Funding → fund → conservation
The preservation easement was completed with support from several sources.
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easement → complete → sources
Funding came from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, an agency of the US Department of Agriculture, through its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
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Funding → come → Program
The Adams County Parks, Recreation and Green Space Grant Program also provided funding.
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Program → provide → funding
Additional support came from the Land Conservancy of Adams County’s Conservation Fund.
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support → come → Fund
With the Yinglings' 101 acres now permanently protected, the wooded areas and cropland will remain part of the area's rural landscape.
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areas → protect → landscape
The decision means the land can continue to provide wildlife habitat, agricultural space and open views for years to come.
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land → mean → years
