January 2025

​​​​Greetings to you all.  It is a new year!  It is a time of transition for us as a country, and a curious time with unknown changes ahead. In the world of the Farmington Land Trust, we too have some changes ahead that we’d like to share with you, involving an upcoming transition within our organization.   
 
As we look ahead into 2025, we also look back and reflect on the incredible progress we’ve made together.  Over the past year, the Farmington Land Trust has accomplished so much. We preserved two new parcels of open space, opened the Wilcox-Bushley Homestead Environmental Education Center in
Unionville.  Additionally, we welcomed over 350 second graders for a pollinator field trip, all while continuing to preserve and protect over 300 acres of woodlands, meadows, and wetlands across Farmington. These are a few among many successes that are a testament to the hard work of our team and supporters—and most especially to the exceptional leadership of our Executive Director, Cate Grady-Benson.
 
After over 10 years of dedicated service to the Land Trust, Cate will be stepping down from her role as Executive Director effective the end of June 2025. Cate’s vision and tireless commitment to our mission, and her love and passion for the environment has left an indelible mark on our organization. Her natural ability to build relationships within our community, to foster community engagement through innovative programming, to advancing our efforts to preserve open space, as well as her commitment to mitigate climate change through sustainable policies and practices, have been some of her many contributions to the Farmington Land Trust. She is truly inspiring.  Cate’s decision to step away comes as she embarks on a new chapter in her life. We will greatly miss her leadership.  Although we will miss Cate, we are thrilled for all that lies ahead for her. 
 
The Board is actively working to identify the next Executive Director who will continue to carry forward the mission of protecting open space in perpetuity through acquisition, education, stewardship, and advocacy. We will keep you updated as we move forward in this process. 
 
Thank you as always for your belief and support in the Farmington Land Trust. Together, we will honor Cate’s legacy by continuing to offer our educational programs and to preserve and protect the natural spaces that make our community so special. 
 
Francie Brown Holmes,
President, Farmington Land Trust