January 4, 2007| Givens appointed to Ohio Farmland Preservation Advisory Board

RELEASE: at once
WRITTEN: January 4, 2007
CONTACT: Amy Deeds

GAMBIER, OHIO--Douglas Givens, managing director of the Philander Chase Corporation, has been appointed to serve on the twelve-member Ohio Farmland Preservation Advisory Board, announced Fred L. Dailey, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Givens, who will serve a three-year term through December 31, 2009, will represent environmental interests on the board.

The advisory board provides advice to the director of agriculture on the implementation of farmland preservation programs, including the selection of applications to be awarded matching grants for the purchase of agricultural easements. The board may also be involved in the design and implementation of any other statewide farmlandprotection measures that the director considers appropriate.

The nonprofit Philander Chase Corporation was founded in 2000 by Kenyon College to preserve and maintain the farmland, open spaces, scenic views, and characteristic landscapes surrounding the College and Gambier. Under Givens's leadership, the corporation has partnered with other entities, including the Owl Creek Conservancy, to protect more than 2,000 acres of undeveloped property, working to help local landowners qualify for Ohio's Clean Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program and other preservation initiatives. Since its inception in 2001, five properties in Knox County have been accepted into the agricultural easement program, which protects owners from development pressures and permanently ensures that land will be preserved for agricultural purposes. Approval for two more properties is pending. In addition, twelve properties have been preserved with funding from the Ohio Public Works Commission.

Givens came to Kenyon in 1973. Prior to serving as managing director of the Philander Chase Corporation, he was vice president for development for the College.

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