(WHTM) — Nearly 1,000 acres of farmland in our area will be protected from future development thanks to an investment from the state government.

Pennsylvania announced $10.2 million is being spent to purchase the development rights for 2,645 acres on 31 farms statewide, including 833 acres in the Midstate.

John Marsteller Jr. sold the development rights to a 233-acre crop farm in East Hopewell Township, York County, the family’s fourth preserved easement and creating a 2,700-acre block of preserved farmland.

Franklin County continues investment to protect farmland

“It’s been important for me and my family to not only farm the land, but to make sure that there are farms, and productive ones, for the future,” Marsteller said. “My mom always said that I was born on a tractor. I’ve been driving trucks and tractors since I was five years old. I was born and raised on the same farm that I live on today.”

“Pennsylvania leads the nation in preserved farmland, thanks to the unwavering commitment of our farm families and strong support at every level of government,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “Many of these farmers have been offered the opportunity to sell their land for development, but they’ve chosen instead to stay committed to feeding our Commonwealth and carrying on their families’ farming traditions.”

The investment is through the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Program which brings together the state, local governments, and nonprofits to purchase the development rights for farmland.

The program was created in 1988 and has preserved 665,585 acres in 58 counties.

Farmland preserved in the Midstate is below.

Cumberland County

Adams Family Trust, 80-acre crop farm, Silver Spring Township

Delbert B. and Lorene M. Sensenig, 108-acre dairy farm, Southampton Township

Franklin County

Barry L. Timmons, 46-acre crop and livestock farm, Montgomery Township

Lancaster County

James L. and Alica B. Denlinger, 48-acre crop farm, East Lampeter Township

Mahlon J. Stoltzfus, 59-acre crop farm, Leacock Township

York County

180 Jerusalem School #1, 110-acre crop farm, East Manchester Township

KT Burton #1, 149-acre crop farm, Shrewsbury Township

John W. Marsteller, Jr. #2, 233-acre crop farm, East Hopewell Township

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.