HAGERSTOWN, MD (February 24, 2026) – The Washington County Division of Planning & Zoning is proud to announce the recent preservation of two farms through the Maryland Agricultural Resource-Based Industries Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) Next Generation Farmland Acquisition (Next Gen) Program, further advancing the County’s efforts to protect agricultural land and bringing the total to more than 43,000 acres of permanently preserved land.
The easements, finalized on December 29, 2025 and January 28, 2026, preserve a combined 99.81 acres across two properties. The first is a 45.08-acre farm located on Little Antietam Road in Hagerstown, and the second is a 54.73-acre farm on Wolfsville Road in Smithsburg. Both properties feature a mix of productive agricultural land, forested areas, and natural resources. Their preservation contributes to the expansion of contiguous blocks of protected land and supports neighboring property owners in pursuing permanent conservation easements.
MARBIDCO’s Next Gen Program has been active in Washington County since 2019 and serves as a valuable tool for individuals seeking to purchase and operate their first farm. The program is designed for applicants who have not previously owned more than 20 acres of contiguous land and who are prepared to make an offer on a qualifying property. Eligible properties must meet the criteria for inclusion in the County’s Agricultural Land Preservation District (Ag District) Program, including agricultural assessment, location within a rural zoning district, exclusion from designated growth areas and municipalities, and the presence of at least 50 percent Class I, II, or III soils.
The program operates on a competitive, monthly application cycle. If selected, participants may receive up to 51 percent of the land-only appraised value of the property, with a maximum award of $500,000, to assist with the purchase. In return, the new landowner is required to actively pursue a permanent conservation easement through another land preservation program. Upon successful completion of that process, the landowner repays MARBIDCO and retains any remaining easement proceeds.
The Next Gen Program is one component of Washington County’s comprehensive land preservation strategy, which aims to protect agricultural, scenic, historic, and environmentally significant lands. Additional programs supporting this effort include the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Rural Legacy Program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, and Program Open Space–Stateside; the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation program; the County’s Installment Purchase Program; local forest conservation easements; federal initiatives such as the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program and Federal Scenic Easements; and partnerships with organizations including the Maryland Environmental Trust, Antietam Battlefield Trust, and Mid-Maryland Land Trust.
While state programs continue to provide significant funding for land preservation, Washington County has taken proactive steps in recent years to supplement these efforts with additional local investment, reinforcing its long-term commitment to preserving its agricultural heritage and natural resources.
For more information about Washington County’s land preservation programs, please contact Chris Boggs, Rural Preservation Administrator, at 240-313-2447 or via email at [email protected].
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