Connecting Lives to Nature: How Conservation Supports Outdoor Recreation
May 13, 2025
In the rolling countryside of Lincoln County, a local dairy farm is securing its future. Piedmont Jerseys Farm and Riverbend Creamery, a 266-acre family-owned dairy, is now permanently protected from development thanks to a partnership between the Lutz family and Catawba Lands Conservancy.
For generations, the Lutz family has raised Jersey cows on open pasture, producing high-quality milk while prioritizing environmental stewardship. Now, through a conservation easement, their land will continue to serve the community for family farm use —preserving Lincoln County’s agricultural heritage while safeguarding natural resources.
“We’re extremely passionate about caring for our cows and the land,” shared the Lutz family. “We hope to leave a legacy of providing wholesome, nutritious, and delicious ALL-JERSEY dairy products for our local community.”
The Urgent Need to Protect Farmland
Agriculture is the backbone of North Carolina’s rural communities, yet farmland is disappearing at an alarming rate. According to American Farmland Trust, Mecklenburg County has lost nearly 20% of its farmland in the last decade, and North Carolina is ranked second in projected farmland loss by 2040. Without action, local farms like Piedmont Jerseys could be replaced by development, threatening food security, water quality, and rural economies.
Piedmont Jerseys joins 806 contiguous acres of protected land in the Conservancy’s Riverbend Conservation Area, safeguarding clean water and wildlife. The Lutz family farm is part of the Saint James Preserve, funded in part by the North Carolina Land and Water Fund, which provides water quality protections and future trail expansion in a rapidly growing region.
By conserving working farms, the Conservancy helps ensure that future generations will have access to fresh, locally produced food. Preserving farmland also reduces transportation costs, strengthens farm-to-table dining, and supports local businesses and restaurants.
A New Chapter for Riverbend Creamery
The Lutz family isn’t just protecting farmland but sharing it with the community.
Olivia Pearson, Lutz’s daughter and Marketing Manager of Riverbend Creamery, said, “Partnering with Catawba Lands Conservancy gives us peace of mind, knowing that Piedmont Jerseys Farm and Riverbend Creamery will remain a place for agriculture, open space, and community connection for years to come.”
“My vision is that no matter what, when you come to Ritchie Road in Lincolnton, there is always a farm here,” said Corie Lutz, owner of Riverbend Creamery and father to Olivia. “It’s harder and harder for new farmers to get into this business. The world still has to eat. Lincoln County has been growing so fast that our county has to be strategic at some point. More farmland has to be saved. By creating our conservation easement with Catwaba Lands Conservancy, I’ve given my great-great grandkids a chance to still farm here – on the land we protected forever.”
To support farmland preservation, make a donation today.
GO BACK TO THE CONSERVATION STRATEGY
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LUTZ FAMILY LEGACY:
Catawba Lands Conservancy protects two new properties – November 2023 – https://catawbalands.org/catawba-lands-conservancy-protects-two-new-properties-including-local-dairy-farm-and-creamery-2/
Feature Story in 2020 Annual Report https://catawbalands.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/103186_CLC_CTT_Spring_2021_v4.pdf