Pa. leads the nation in the number of preserved farms

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 Jacqueline Larma / The Associated Press

A farm is seen Wednesday May 29, 2019 outside Morgantown, Pa.

Airdate: Monday, June 27, 2022

Earlier this month, Pennsylvania protected more than 22 hundred acres on 32 farms in 18 counties from future development.

That brings the total number of farms protected under the farmland preservation programs to almost 6,100 farms protected that make up nearly 614,000 acres in 58 counties.

Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of farms preserved.

What does it mean that a farm is preserved? Why is it important to preserve farmland? How much does it cost? What do the farmers get out it?

All questions we ask on Monday’s Smart Talk.

Our guests are Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Farmland Preservation Director Doug Wolfgang and Ben Wenk and his father Dave own Ploughman’s Cider in Adams County.