This year marks the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Voluntary Agricultural District program, and to celebrate the occasion the Farmland Preservation Division is hosting county VAD administrators and related organizations for a two-day conference that seeks to further strengthen and develop this valuable tool that is often the first step toward long-term preservation of working lands. This conference will be held in Cherokee and Bryson City on July 22 and 23. Among others, topics will include program best practices, VAD ordinance updates, increasing VAD participation, and an interactive mock public hearing  The full agenda for both days can be found here. Registration for the event is closed.

Thanks to all of our sponsors for making this event possible!