Photo courtesy of IronGlass Productions
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK – On Thursday, September 12th, Saratoga PLAN’s third annual fundraising dinner and auction brought an at-capacity crowd to The Mansion of Saratoga in Rock City Falls.
Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature) is the local land trust dedicated to conserving farmland, forests, and waterways throughout Saratoga County and into neighboring areas like Fulton County. Working closely with local municipalities and private landowners, PLAN has helped protect over 14,000 acres of land and connect people to nature by contributing to the creation of over 200 miles of trails. Proceeds from the event will directly support these ongoing conservation efforts.
Guests at the event enjoyed a selection of delicious libations, including an autumn white wine sangria specialty cocktail. Live acoustic blues from local duo Mark & Jill filled the air as attendees mingled in the rose garden, enjoying a Tuscan station brimming with gourmet cheeses, Italian meats, and spreads.
Throughout the evening, attendees bid on a wide range of auction items and experiences, all donated by local businesses and community members. Executive Chef Rick Bieber prepared four delectable plated dinner options, including a standout Salmon Roulade with Lemon Beurre Blanc. The night concluded on a sweet note, with an array of desserts and a special treat-to-go donated by Leah’s Cakery in Round Lake.
PLAN Board Chair Peter Olmsted warmly welcomed guests and shared a personal connection to the organization’s mission, “The land trust mission has always held deep meaning for me,” Olmsted remarked. “As a descendant of the visionary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, I’m inspired by the profound impact he had in creating natural spaces where people can connect with nature and each other. His legacy echoes powerfully through our work at Saratoga PLAN, and it’s heartening to witness the overwhelming support from individuals and community partners as we advance this vital cause.”
Executive Director Robert Davies followed with remarks about the importance of community partnerships in conservation. “Conservation is a team effort,” Davies said. “PLAN’s impact comes from the many hands involved—from the landowners who partner with us to conserve their land, to the current owners of those properties we partner with to uphold their conservation easements, to our dedicated crew of volunteers, municipal partners, and of course, all of you—PLAN supporters and stakeholders… Our work is ONLY possible because each of you plays an essential role in our organization.”
Davies continued, “Partnerships take trust, patience, communication, and collaboration. These values are embodied by the Conservation Heroes we honor tonight.”
The 2024 Conservation Heroes were introduced, which included farmer Steve Ropitzky, volunteer Ralph Keating, Saratoga County and the Winter Family, who spent over a decade acquiring, developing and working on what would become the Graphite Range Community Forest in Wilton—Saratoga County’s first federally recognized community forest. In a video shown during the event, Ethan Winter described the vision behind the project, “This project was really meant to build connections to our local landscapes, so we wanted to create a portal, literally a gateway into the Adirondack Foothills…”
Winter concluded by highlighting the importance of local land conservation, adding, “Saratoga PLAN has been an essential part of this idea. I really hope that this project will help folks support Saratoga PLAN to do bigger projects in the future because they’re not making any more land, and we want to take advantage of the community assets that we have to do more.”
These heartfelt remarks segued into a successful paddle raise led by auctioneer Tom Stebbins which raised nearly $70,000 for the organization’s ongoing conservation efforts and stewardship of lands throughout the region.
More information on Saratoga PLAN’s work can be found at www.saratogaplan.org.
About Saratoga PLAN:
Saratoga PLAN is a nonprofit land trust that preserves the rural character, natural habitats, and scenic beauty of Saratoga County so that these irreplaceable assets are accessible to all and survive for future generations. PLAN acknowledges that the lands it conserves are located on ancestral homelands of Mohican, Mohawk, and Abenaki people.
PLAN, which stands for preserving land and nature, has helped conserve over 14,000 acres of land in Saratoga County. PLAN helps landowners conserve farmland, woodlands, and natural habitats, and connects people to nature through an extensive trail network, including 13 public nature preserves open for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and nature study. Saratoga PLAN helps communities create plans that balance growth with conservation to sustain the Saratoga Region as a great place to live, work, visit, play and farm. PLAN facilitates community-based conservation by partnering with municipalities to help them accomplish their community’s conservation goals.