Profiles in Preservation

Ielmorini Ranch, Nicasio

When Doug Ielmorini says "Hard work doesn't bother me," he really means it. In 1992, he and his wife Cathy leased a virtually abandoned 400-acre dairy farm in Nicasio. Though some cows still grazed on the property, barns had fallen into disrepair, fences needed to be rebuilt, and the farmhouse leaked all over. "You could just tell there was no life out here," Cathy remembers.

Today, the fruit of the Ielmorinis' labor is immediately apparent in the beautifully-maintained pastures, fences, barns, and outbuildings on the picturesque ranch they were able to purchase in 1999 with the help of MALT. Best of all, the dairy has been re-established. "MALT is a way that allows young people to get started and stay in agriculture," Doug says, "It's a helping hand. We couldn't do it any other way."

To see a timeline of MALT easements, download MALT's Land Preservation Report.