01-09-13 American Farmland Trust President Jon Scholl Stepping Down ...

Scholl Will Teach at University of Illinois and Resume Farming in Central Illinois

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 9, 2013 –American Farmland Trust (AFT) President Jon Scholl announced plans to step down this summer after a five-year term as the head of the nation’s leading farmland conservation organization.

“Jon’s commitment to America’s farmers is unwavering. During his tenure, he became a prominent spokesperson on a broad range of issues faced by America’s farmers. He pursued all opportunities to further AFT’s mission to protect farmland, promote sound farming practices and keep farmers on the land,” said AFT Board Chair Miranda Kaiser, whose grandmother Peggy Rockefeller founded AFT 30 years ago.

Scholl has accepted a position to teach agricultural policy as part of an “experiential learning program” at the University of Illinois’ College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in Urbana-Champaign, Il.  He also plans to resume his active involvement as a partner in his family’s farm in McLean County, Il. He will continue to be an advisor and advocate to AFT in the years ahead.

Scholl became the President of AFT in July 2008, after serving as Counselor to the Administrator for Agricultural Policy at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) since 2004. Prior to that, Scholl served the Illinois Farm Bureau for 25 years.

Kaiser said the search for a new president will be led by AFT Board Member William DeLauder, working with executive search firm Pangburn Partners, LLC of Washington, D.C. Interested parties should contact Wendy Pangburn via e-mail at wendys@pangburnpartners.com.

About American Farmland Trust

American Farmland Trust is the nation’s leading conservation organization dedicated to protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land. Since its founding in 1980 by a group of farmers and citizens concerned about the rapid loss of farmland to development, AFT has helped save millions of acres of farmland from development and led the way for the adoption of conservation practices on millions more.

AFT’s national office is located in Washington, DC. Phone: 202-331-7300. For more information, visit www.farmland.org.