Next Generation Land Stewards
ShoreRivers’ Next Generation Land Stewards (NGLS) program is a purpose-built, unique program created with and for the next generation of agricultural landowners on the Eastern Shore. Launched in 2023, NGLS has established an engaged cohort of rising decision-makers on family farms. The purpose of this program is to bring together Next Generation Land Stewards — people who are new or upcoming agricultural landowners — to connect with local experts, resources, and opportunities; create a community and network for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and support; and to help set conservation objectives that support agronomic and profitability goals.
The pilot year of this program was funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). ShoreRivers will continue to leverage community investments in this program to bring additional state and federal funding. To learn more, contact program leads Laura Wood and Darran White Tilghman.
Who are we?
Next Generation Land Stewards are adults and young families who have careers off the farm, but either have or will inherit family farms and become the farm’s decision makers for many years to come. Our current cohort is 40 people representing over 5,000 acres of farmland spanning Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Talbot, and Dorchester counties. Some NGLS members are also agricultural producers; these tend to be smaller, value-added products, including wine and honey. Most are landowners who rent to farmer operators, which is a very common arrangement on the Eastern Shore; about 60% of our farmland is leased.
Through NGLS, program participants are able to expand their networks, increase knowledge, and connect with local resources, programs, experts, and each other. NGLS remains open to new members and has seen steady growth in interest. We expect this to continue with consistency in outreach and events.
We strive for FOUR events per year and FIVE program sponsors per event.
ngls event topics include:
Applying to State and Federal Cost-Share Programs
Balancing Wildlife Habitat with Productive Farmland
Land Transfer Navigators
Native Plant Species: Benefits, Cultivation, and Business
Best Practices for Forest Stewardship
Your $1,000 sponsorship of the Next Generation Land Stewards program will help to provide resources and guidance on farm management and conservation work to rising farm decision makers. Your support will advance our vision of family farms that are bountiful, intact, and sustainable conservation landscapes for generations to come. Benefits include:
Your name and logo on our event invitation reaching all cohort members
Sponsor thanks at our in-person event
Your materials at our event
Social media post highlighting your event sponsorship to our over 7,000 followers
Your name and logo in our ag e-newsletter, reaching more than 300 subscribers
Through this program, Next Generation Land Stewards become prepared, connected, confident stewards of the agricultural lands that define our Eastern Shore region.
“The team at ShoreRivers has already, in a short time, provided us with resources, knowledge, tools, ideas, collaborators, and hope that there are partners out there to enable our family’s vision for our farm to become a reality.””
“Already, NGLS [is] charting a course between overcoming the challenges and embracing the possibilities of a forward looking vision. I foresee it becoming an enduring and essential source of information and community for upcoming farmers and custodians of the land.”