LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund

The LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund provides grants to preserve and restore working agricultural land in Utah, benefiting open space and wildlife as well. The Program uses funds appropriated by the Utah Legislature to purchase conservation easements on important pieces of private land, acquire small parcels in fee title under limited circumstances, and provide small restoration grants to improve conserved lands.

Eligible applicants include:

• Nonprofit land trusts,

• Local governments,

• Tribes, and

• Other eligible entities capable of holding and stewarding perpetual conservation easements.

Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to complete, monitor, and enforce agricultural conservation easements in accordance with state law and UDAF requirements.

To be eligible, projects must:

• Protect active agricultural lands that are at risk of conversion or degradation;

• Involve willing landowners who are committed to the long-term stewardship of their land;

• Result in a perpetual conservation easement that meets UDAF and, if applicable, NRCS ACEP-ALE program standards;

• Demonstrate strong conservation value, such as soil quality, water availability, and proximity to other protected lands; and

• Leverage additional funding or in-kind contributions.

In alignment with the program's goal of protecting Utah's most productive agricultural lands, priority will be given to irrigated properties containing prime and other high-value agricultural soils.

Total Funding Available: $850,000 per fiscal year.

Cost-Share Requirement: Matching funds are required. Funds may only be used for the direct purchase of conservation easements. Transaction cost assistance is available through the UDAF Agricultural Resource Development Loan Program (ARDL): https://ag.utah.gov/farmers/agriculture-loan-programs/

Applications are evaluated based on soil-based qualities; agricultural productivity and viability of the property; risk of conversion to non-agricultural use; and other program priorities the Board may consider, including demonstrated public benefit, protection of watersheds, location within a strategic priority area, wildlife habitat protection, succession and land transfer planning, local supply chain tie ins, readiness of the project, and likelihood of timely completion.

Applications are accepted year-round on an ongoing basis, with review and award decisions made once per year. The batch deadline is August 31st.

Timeline (2026):

• Application Deadline: August 31

• Staff Review & Site Visit Window: Sept-Oct

• Board Review & Final Decision: November

• Award Notification: December 1

Application materials and guidance can be found at https://ag.utah.gov/conservation/leray-mcallister-working-farm-and-ranch-fund/.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the Land Conservation Program with questions or to schedule a pre-application consultation: Jeremy Christensen, Land Conservation Program Manager, jeremyc@utah.gov, (385) 441-4106.

• Utah Land Conservation Program Grant Manual

• Pre Application Cover Sheet

• Eligible Cost Policy

• Appraisal Policy

• LeRay McAllister Glossary

• LeRay McAllister Grant Process Flow Chart

• Notice of Funding Opportunity