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Z a x Doug Kleiss and one of his Blue Heelers stand between Holsteins in "Feed Alley." Weiss's photogenic farm, Stardell, above. AFT for advice about the easement terms, natural resource issues and other questions about their proper- ties. Sometimes they ask for interpre- tations of the easement; other times they want to share their latest farming techniques. "During a visit, we enjoy face -to- face time with landowners to talk to them about their plans for the proper- ty and how their easement fits into that," Ely says. "We also need to look for any violations of the easement, but the real emphasis is on landowner communication. That's how viola- tions, especially the unintentional variety, are prevented and good rela- tionships are maintained." AFT's previous stewardship man- ager, Stephanie Gilbert, toured Gary's ranch on horseback last sum- mer. "It was useful because AFT is so far away. You can look at maps and legal descriptions of the property, but that's pretty abstract," Gary says. "It was good to have her here to help her understand the scope of what's going on better. When AFT is managing their easements and being active in stewardship, they need to understand what's happening on the ranches, what's adjacent to the ranches, and the wildlife issues." The stewardship program also provides a steady organizational con- tact for AFT's easement holders. The stewardship manager, who stays in regular contact with easement hold- ers through a newsletter, phone calls and visits, remains available for prop- erty owners who may have questions or concerns. "The stewardship manager is the main point of contact for our ease - merit holders; the friendly face they see in person or the helpful voice they hear on the phone," Storrow says. "We want to foster that ongoing rela- tionship with the people who took the bold step to protect their proper- ties. Often, they're community lead- ers or visionary folks, and they repre- sent a base of support for AFT's pro- grams." Easement holders say they have not felt AFT's stewardship program to be intrusive or burdensome. To the contrary, they say they appreciate the regular contact and the organization's efforts to uphold the terms of their easements. Doug Kleiss put an easement on his 260 -acre crop and livestock farm in northeast Iowa in the mid- 1980s, and has never regretted his decision. "I think it's a good idea to place an easement when you've got really good farmland," he says. "Let them build their houses where the land's no good for raising food. We don't want the city to get closer to us." Kleiss has hosted a stewardship representative from AFT every two years. Each time, he drives the stew- ardship manager around his property and enjoys their exchange of ideas. Partly because of AFT's advice, Kleiss switched from conventional plowing to conservation tillage on his cropland. Asked if the stewardship program was an imposition, Kleiss doesn't hes- itate. "Heavens, no," lie says. Gary agrees. "It's not a burden," lie says. "The mechanics of getting along with AFT have been very sini- ple and unobtrusive." cis For land protection options, go to wzozo frtr•ntlalzd.org/protectI irtdex.him. For in -depth reading oil conservation easements, order Saving American Farmland; What Works, published biv AFT Call 1 -800- 370 -4879 to order. Valerie Berton, a former editor of American Farmland, zoorks fin• the USDA's SastainableAgriculture Research and Edrtcation Program. 20 A M E R I C A N F A R M L A N D S P R I N G 2 0 0 1