Located between Evansville and Janesville in Rock County, Groundswell Conservancy‘s Bjugstad Conservation Easement will protect a 189-acre working grain farm owned by Brian and Renee Bjugstad.
The easement will ensure the land remains in agricultural production, preserving a vital part of Rock County’s farming heritage. The Bjugstad farm, which primarily produces corn and soybeans, represents the kind of productive, well-managed agricultural land that is increasingly under pressure from development in the region. The land is particularly valuable due to its soil makeup, along with its seasonal wetlands that provide crucial wildlife habitat.
Groundswell received a $492,900 Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program grant, covering half of the project’s total cost. Additional support came from project partners including the USDA/NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program, the Rock County PACE Program, American Farmland Trust, and the Rock River Valley chapter of Pheasants Forever.
The Bjugstad property has a long history of public access, having participated in the Voluntary Public Access program for hunting since the 1940s. The easement will continue this tradition, opening the land for activities such as hunting, hiking, cross-country skiing, and bird watching. Its seasonal wetlands offer habitat for pheasants, waterfowl, and songbirds.
In 2020, Groundswell worked with Brian’s parents, Oscar and Norma Bjugstad, to protect their farm with a conservation easement. Now, they aim to do the same for Brian and Renee’s farm, preserving it for future generations.
Once completed, the easement will be jointly managed by the Bjugstad family, Groundswell Conservancy, and Pheasants Forever, and will showcase how conservation efforts can support both agriculture and public recreation, preserving agricultural heritage while meeting community and wildlife needs.The project is slated to close in September 2024.
Header image by Loren King, 2024
