What to do with the Farm

It sounds like what you are describing is a conservation trust for natural lands. Those are different than agricultural land trusts for farms and ranches. In both cases, the land trust groups are pretty transparent about their goals and intentions. It also tends to be reflected in the legal documents in some detail. In the situation you describe it is perfectly plausible that the trust was forthright about their intent with the owners, but not necessarily the public at large. If they weren't forthright with the owners, they won't operate for long.

In any event, the point is well taken. Understand the kind of land trust you are talking to, and what specific goals you and they have for the land.

My farm in Illinois is in a SIX generation trust, kind of like what Sidepasser explained. I am the third generation, my Great Grandfather wrote the trust, and I am SO thankful he did. We had a family meeting between my Mother, myself and my three siblings this summer. It was decided that I would move home at some point and manage the farm, all the farmable land is leased to a guy I went to high school with and he does a very very good job crop wise.

I will live on the farm until I die, and just for the naysayers, I went away in my early 20's to live the big city life, and in my early 40's gave that up for small town life in the big woods of Wisconsin. I look forward to moving back home, just not quite ready yet and my Mother does not need the help. Also I have vastly younger brothers 23 and 28, they will probably have children, and those children may one day want to farm our land.

My farm has been in our family for 167 years, and it will stay in the family!

Margie