# Agricultural Advisory Board Meeting | June 16, 2026

**Body:** Buncombe County Government — Agricultural Advisory Board
**Date:** June 16, 2026 11:08 AM EDT (2026-06-16T11:08:07-04:00)

**Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2899

## Summary

**Meeting Overview**
The Buncombe County Agricultural Advisory Board held its regular meeting on June 16, 2026. The session addressed routine administrative approvals, reviewed applications for agricultural easements, received updates on ongoing farmland preservation projects, and debated policy regarding conservation easement appraisals.

**Key Decisions**
The board approved the June 16, 2026, meeting agenda and the minutes from the May 19, 2026, meeting, both of which passed unanimously. Regarding land preservation, the board unanimously approved three applications for Voluntary Agricultural Development (VAD) or Enhanced VAD (EVAD) easements submitted by Kathy Davis. These applications cover approximately 130 acres of land near Midfound, including a former dairy farm, cornfields, forested areas, and pasture. In a significant policy decision, the board voted to continue paying for Internal Revenue Service (IRS) appraisals for conservation easements, maintaining the current policy rather than adopting the recommendation to cease payment.

**Discussion Highlights**
A major portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Program Policy & Appraisal Discussion. Board members debated the costs and potential conflicts of interest associated with the county selecting and paying for IRS appraisals, a practice that the Land Trust Alliance and the County Attorney had previously recommended against. Despite these concerns, the board voted to maintain the current practice of paying for these appraisals, citing the support this provides to landowners seeking tax benefits and its alignment with the board’s commitment to farmland preservation.

The board also reviewed the Farmland Preservation Report, which detailed the status of numerous ongoing projects. Staff provided updates on baseline documentation and surveys for properties including the Slocum, Morgan Tracts, Saddlebrook, and Brown properties. The report noted that the Southern Appalachian Community Farm expansion is scheduled to close in the second week of July. Additionally, the board discussed a slight delay in the Wilson Farm project due to title issues currently being addressed by legal counsel. Other projects, such as the Okoboji Farm, are on pause due to a lawsuit involving a Homeowners Association, while the Cole Sisters Farm is on hold due to a family dispute.

**Follow-ups**
Staff members explicitly agreed to continue working on baseline documentation reports and surveys for the ongoing projects listed in the report. Legal counsel will continue to resolve the title issues affecting the Wilson Farm project. Furthermore, staff will prepare and submit grant applications in August, including an application for $2 million for the Agricultural Growth Zone grant and funds to update the Farmland Protection Plan, which includes a cost of community services study.

**Impact**
These decisions reflect the county’s ongoing commitment to protecting agricultural land and supporting local farmers. By approving the Davis Farm easements, the board secured permanent protection for 130 acres of farmland. The decision to continue funding IRS appraisals ensures that landowners participating in conservation easements can access specific tax benefits, which is a key incentive for preserving farmland. The preparation of new grant applications and the update to the Farmland Protection Plan indicate a strategic effort to secure future funding and refine the county’s approach to long-term agricultural preservation.

## Agenda

- [Call to order](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2899/item/24741)
- [Approval of June 16, 2026, meeting agenda](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2899/item/24742)
- [Approval of May 19, 2026, meeting minutes](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2899/item/24743)
- [Public Comment](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2899/item/24744)
- [Applications for VAD/EVAD](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2899/item/24745)
- [Farmland Preservation Report](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2899/item/24746)
- [Program Policy & Appraisal Discussion](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2899/item/24747)
- [Announcements and Discussion](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2899/item/24748)

## Video & Transcript

- Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9qUthKS9EU
- Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/1963/segments

## Documents

- [agenda_packet_2026-06-16.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/2899?document=15610)

## Sources

- [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9qUthKS9EU)