Third Deer Creek Valley Trail Ride
Three Local Non-Profits Sponsored Second Deer Creek Valley Trail Ride Event
Participants Helped Raise $7,000 for Land Preservation
|
A hundred riders drove their horse vans up the long curving lane from the Darlington Road to the Richard and Jeanette Crouse farm on Sunday, November 7, for the second Deer Creek Valley Trail Ride. It was a golden day and a rare opportunity to ride across 25 private properties in a scenic and little traveled segment of Harford County.
Deer Creek was Maryland's first officially designated Scenic River in 1973. Thirteen of the farms along the two routes, short and long, of the trail ride are in preservation programs; the Harford County Farmland Preservation Program, a perpetual Conservation
Easement to the Maryland Historical Trust, the Deer Creek Rural Legacy Program of Harford County, or the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation Program.
Altogether these programs are preserving 1,866 acres along this portion of Deer Creek.
|
The trail ride was jointly sponsored by the Deer Creek Watershed Association, the Harford Land Trust and the Manor Conservancy for the benefit of the preservation efforts of all three. The first trail ride in November of 2002 covered much of the same area as this one. The second was in the upper portion of the watershed with the Manor Conservancy the lead sponsor. For this, the third annual ride, the event was expanded for wider public participation.
|
photo: HLT
|
The ride began and ended at the elegant Richard Crouse farm with its indoor riding arena and 130 acres overlooking the rolling countryside. Two groups of riders took off at 10 a.m, one for the shorter three-hour route and the other for a more challenging three to four hour route. As they returned they were joined by non-riders for a barbecue in the indoor arena. The barbecued Deer Creek beef and pork were the products of local farms prepared by Mike Thompson, an award-winning chef from Florida encountered by some of the event's planners at the Bel Air Barbecue Bash this summer.
|
There was ice cream produced by Keyes Creamery, a dairy farm near Havre de Grace. There was live bluegrass music by Manor Grass.
Of special interest to this very special gathering were the oil and water color paintings of John Sauers a resident of Harford County for many years whose work captured some of the very scenes the riders had passed that morning, or that were familiar to those who know well the landscapes along Harmony Church and Glenville Roads. Mr. Sauers and his wife, Jeanette, now live in White Top, Virginia and he is a Resident Artist at the William King Regional Arts Center in Abingdon.
|
photo: HLT
|
The efforts put forth by members of the sponsoring groups and the details involved in bringing about this event were awesome. The key to it all was the goodwill of the landowners who agreed to have long streams of riders crossing their properties and share the increasing rarity of open space and the special beauty of wild and unmanicured fence rows, country lanes and woodland paths. Trail riders owe thanks to:
Alvin and Jean Lehnerd whose 130-acre farm on Darlington Road features Galloway Belted cattle.
Henry Smith and Brenda Holloway who bought the historic Wilson Mill Property and stone house in the year 2000 and are restoring the mill, stone outbuildings and peach and apple orchards.
Jane Garono, owner of Breezy Meadows farm, whose long lane led into the open land of Lawrence and Elizabeth Bowman.
Richard Norling, who breeds thoroughbred horses and raises hay on Deer Creek Farm.
The Marchant H. Hall family's farm near Nobles Mill.
Monroe and Olga Duke owners of an historic property called Woodlawn.
Mr. and Mrs. James T. Dresher Jr., who are restoring the old Jewett mansion on the Lansdowne estate.
The William Boniface family of Bonita Farm, one of Maryland's most famed thoroughbred horse farms.
Howard and Louise Blakeley, whose family has owned this 136-acre farm since 1913.
The Peter Jay family's Windmill Hill Farm from which came a number of participating horses and riders.
The Lawrason Sayre family from whose Waffle Hill Farm came the Deer Creek beef for the barbecue.
James and Deborah Qualls of Cool Branch Farm, who were also active volunteers in staging the trail ride.
Mildred S. Kreider of Little Jericho, a long time supporter of the Harford Land Trust.
Vernon Weaver who, with his two daughters, Carolyn Weaver Powell and Christine Smith, owns Brook's End farm on Harmony Church Road.
The Michael and Barbara Connell family who own Cedar Hill Farm.
By opening their properties for the day these landowners gave the trail riders a circuit on both sides of Deer Creek and a celebration, not of the rural life that was, but of the rural life that is.
Thanks also go to Craig Turner who arranged for the riders to cross the grounds of the U.S. Army's Churchville Test Facility.
Credit for lining up the two trails and organizing the ride goes to Peter Jay, Trail Master, who conceived the annual trail rides two years ago.
Over 400 riders and non-riders came to the barbecue at the Crouse's indoor riding arena afterwards. For this highly successful event the sponsors owe much gratitude to Deer Creek Beef, who supplied the barbecue, David Keyes of Keyes Creamery, who supplied ice cream and cheese, Lohrs Orchard for apples, Chef Mike Thompson for services, and the contributions of MidAtlantic Farm Credit, Ronnie's Beverage Warehouse, Ralph and Shirley Klein, Artist John Sauers, and the Holloway Brothers Farm.
|
Home |
Welcome |
Our Work |
Projects |
Programs
News/Events |
Membership |
Site Map |
Contact Us
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profile ...
To learn more about our Board of Directors
click here
|
|
Projects ...
To read about our the latest project or other successful projects
click here
|
Join us ...
Support our effort to protect the land of Harford County. To apply for a membership
click here
|
|
