Summit County, Utah (June 17, 2025) — A 61-acre Eastern Summit County property known as “Maxo Meadow” closed on Monday as the latest win for Summit County agricultural preservation. This conservation easement came to fruition thanks to the dedicated efforts of Summit Land Conservancy, the Eastern Summit County Agriculture Preservation and Open Lands Advisory Committee (ESAP), and Summit County bond funds. This is the fifth conservation easement secured since the General Obligation Bond for Open Space was passed by Summit County voters in 2021.
The Maxo Meadow is a symbol of the county’s agricultural heritage, with farming and ranching dating back over 100 years. The current cattle grazing agricultural operation is run by the Young family on the property and the landowners want it to continue operating as a ranch and remain within the family.
“We are grateful to the Young family for entrusting Summit Land Conservancy to hold this conservation easement which aligns with Summit County’s vision to preserve agricultural land within the Kamas Meadows,” Summit County Council Chair Tonja Hanson said. “Summit County wouldn’t be what it is today without the many contributions of our agricultural community.”
Over the past four years, the Summit County Lands and Natural Resources Department has been dedicated to piecing together a protective mosaic of the Kamas Meadows to preserve this vital wildlife corridor, water resource, viewshed, and its agricultural roots. 13,835 acres of land have been secured countywide with help from the 2021 open space bond, grants, and Summit County Volunteer open space boards such as ESAP and the Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC). The following properties have protected their land with conservation easements in part with bond funds for open space: Andrus Family Farm (96 acres), Wright Echo Canyon (4,285 acres), and now the Maxo Meadow (61 acres), with the Ure Ranch (835 acres), the 910 Ranch (8,558 acres) secured and nearing completion.
“It has been a great honor to work alongside Summit Land Conservancy and other federal and state partners, to protect land throughout Summit County,” Summit County Lands and Natural Resource Director Jess Kirby said. “I commend each of the landowners who have selflessly chosen conservation for their properties, an act that will be their lasting legacy. I feel so lucky to live in and work for a community that values open space and agricultural preservation the way Summit County does. Without the community support of the GO Bond in 2021 we would not be celebrating these monumental conservation achievements.”
Summit County acquires property and secures conservation easements for open space, conservation, and agricultural preservation. The County welcomes landowners to submit a Notice of Interest, or “NOI”, to have their property evaluated for possible qualified use of these Open Space Bond Funds. A NOI may only be completed by the property owner or an authorized representative. Find out more at summitcounty.info/NOI.