Warren County Celebrates 30,000 Acres of Preserved Farmland
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Three generations of the McEvoy family stand on farmland they have preserved – putting Warren County over the milestone of 30,000 acres. With them are Commissioner James R. Kern III, Commissioner Director Lori Ciesla, and Commissioner Jason J. Sarnoski, along with Warren County Land Preservation Department Director Corey Tierney and Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio.
McEvoy Family Milestone Reflects Generations of Warren County Farmers Protecting the Land for the Future
WHITE TOWNSHIP, NJ – Sixteen years ago, Frank Demeter stood on his farm in White Township as Warren County celebrated the preservation of its 20,000th acre of farmland. This past Sunday, his daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Jerry McEvoy, stood on their own farm to mark another milestone: the preservation of their 120-acre property, contributing to Warren County surpassing 30,000 acres of permanently preserved farmland.
"There's something especially meaningful about celebrating 30,000 acres here," said Warren County Agriculture Development Board Chairman Joel Schnetzer. "Sixteen years ago, Frank Demeter's farm represented a milestone... Today, his daughter and son-in-law are helping us reach the next one... while their son is farming land his grandfather helped preserve."
The McEvoy farm is part of a larger story that has shaped Warren County for generations. From the rolling fields of the Delaware River valley to the farms of the county's northern and central communities, agriculture is deeply ingrained in Warren County's identity.
According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, Warren County had 923 farms encompassing 70,747 acres, generating over $128 million in agricultural products. However, farming faces pressure from residential, commercial, and industrial development.
Since 1989, Warren County's farmland preservation program has worked with hundreds of landowners to protect farms throughout the county. The voluntary program allows landowners to retain ownership and continue agricultural operations while permanently protecting their farms from non-agricultural development.