LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund

The LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund is a program administered by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) with the purpose of preserving agricultural lands in the state of Utah. The fund was established in 1999 and has since awarded over $27 million in grants to help preserve nearly 100,000 acres of land, with two-thirds of that being active agricultural land. The fund’s structure relies on leveraging state-appropriated dollars to attract additional funding from federal and private sources through matching requirements, yielding over $201 million in total project funding. This approach has created an over 7:1 leverage ratio, allowing Utah to significantly expand its land conservation efforts. The fund operates through the independent Land Conservation Board, which administers the program by offering grants for the purchase of conservation easements on working farm and ranch lands. The aim is to protect Utah’s agricultural landscapes from urban sprawl, preserve food production capacity, and maintain the state’s rural heritage. Eligible applicants for this grant include local governmental entities, the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, and qualifying charitable organizations under IRS Code Section 501(c)(3). Grants are awarded for the purpose of purchasing conservation easements that permanently limit non-agricultural development while allowing continued agricultural use. The grants must be matched with funding from other sources, making the state’s contribution a critical piece in completing funding stacks for land conservation deals. Applications should be submitted via the UDAF Submittable Portal and must include detailed information regarding the property, conservation plan, matching funds, and other required documentation. Beginning in June 2025, the application process transitions to a year-round open model with biannual batching. This batching system allows proposals to be evaluated twice a year: once in spring and once in fall. The spring batch has a deadline of March 31 (starting in 2026), and the fall batch deadline is August 31. Following each deadline, applications undergo a staff review and site visit period (April–May or September–October), after which the board reviews proposals and makes funding decisions in June or November. Award notifications are made by July 1 or December 1, respectively. The fund emphasizes a collaborative approach to land conservation and aims to support projects that offer high public benefit and permanent preservation. The program encourages landowners not currently affiliated with a qualified land trust to register their interest with UDAF to receive assistance in succession and easement planning. For more information or direct support, applicants may contact Program Manager Jeremy Christensen at 385-441-4106 or via email at [email protected]. General inquiries may also be directed to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food at [email protected] or by phone at 801-982-2200. The department is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM MST. Physical documents can be submitted to 4315 South 2700 West, TSOB Building, Floor 2, Taylorsville, Utah 84129, with mail directed to PO Box 146500, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114.

Prioritize high-leverage projects and agricultural conservation impact.