Name: Practical Considerations for Ground Leases
Start: 2026-09-24T08:00:00-0600
End: 2026-09-24T09:30:00-0600

Practical Considerations for Ground Leases

Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT

Ballroom

Ground leases have been promoted in the agricultural context for the past 20 years. As a land access tool, they are promised to ensure long-term affordability by severing ownership of the improvements (buildings) from the real estate (land) for the duration of their 99 year term; they are advertised as a means of building farmer equity in their investments to land, which remain owned by the farmer; they are held out as a means of providing greater community control over land stewardship, since the land is generally owned by a land trust or community-based non-profit. Ground leases are a necessary tool in the community land trust model, which has also been promoted widely. Yet, despite the popular knowledge of ground leases as a farmland access solution, they are not a silver bullet. Very few ground lease transactions have occurred, relative to the amount of conservation easements implemented or other real estate transfers. Even fewer ground leases have transferred from the original stewards to subsequent parties, which is a true test of whether the model is durable for multiple generations of farmers. There are few technical assistance professionals who have experience drafting and executing ground lease transactions, and state by state, there are numerous transactional gaps (and unresolved questions) that can create obstacles to a project. Now, revisiting the topic of ground leases many years on, this panel will reflect on the practical considerations of implementing ground leases as a farmland access tool. The panel will review known ground lease transactions, report their successes / challenges, and outline the lessons learned (legal, financial, social, etc). This panel seeks to further develop ground leases as a viable land access tool by offering reflection and constructive criticism.

Speakers

Margaret Christie

Special Projects Director, Community Involved in Sustainable Agriculture (CISA)

Margaret Christie is the Special Projects Director at CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture), which strengthens farms and engages the community in growing the local food economy in the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts. Margaret has recently conducted... Read More →

Jack Hornickel

Staff Attorney, Pace Law School

Pro bono attorney serving small farm businesses for 10+ years. Currently directing clinical law practice which includes instruction on ethics. Prior NFVC presentations in 2017, 2019, and 2021.

Shemariah Blum-Evitts

Executive Director, Land For Good

Shemariah is Executive Director at Land For Good, a nationally recognized non-profit for their work advancing secure farmland access, tenure, and transfer. LFG operates one of the longest running farmlink websites and accompanying services in the country. They offer one-on-one advising... Read More →

Thursday September 24, 2026 8:00am - 9:30am MDT
Ballroom

Land Access Retention and Transfer

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National Farm Viability Conference

Margaret Christie

Jack Hornickel

Shemariah Blum-Evitts

Attendees (3)

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Success you have shared X tickets.

National Farm Viability Conference

Margaret Christie

Jack Hornickel

Shemariah Blum-Evitts

Attendees (3)

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