Photo by Ken Smith

We announce with regret the departure of longtime staff member Elisabeth Ptak who worked for MALT more than fifteen years, the last eight of those as Associate Director.

"We are deeply grateful for the countless contributions Elisabeth  has made to MALT's development and growth as an organization and to our achievements in permanently preserving Marin's family farms and ranches," says Executive Director Robert Berner. "Elisabeth is a gifted writer, editor, photographer, and project manager, and she forged meaningful relationships for MALT with donors, the press, the public, conservation and environmental groups, and the agricultural community."

Elisabeth developed strong contacts with regional and national media to promote local farming and ranching and MALT's work of farmland conservation through the stories of the men and women who have stewarded Marin's working landscape for generations. Under her creative guidance, the website and MALT's highly regarded newsletters, e-newsletters, books, public displays, and Ranches & Rolling Hills Landscape Art Show became recognized as models of excellence among Bay Area nonprofits and national land trusts. She also composed many essays, articles, and Op-Ed pieces about MALT and Marin County agriculture for regional and national print and online publications.

MALT's successful annual art show, Ranches & Rolling Hills, which Elisabeth produced since its inception in 1998, has earned nearly $1 million for the preservation of Marin County farmland. She also researched, wrote, and edited the book, Ranches & Rolling Hills: Art of West Marin-A Land in Trust, published in 2008 by Windgate Press to commemorate the art show's first ten years.

Says Berner, "Through her dedication to quality, her attention to detail, her production of effective marketing materials, her outstanding work ethic, and her unfailing commitment to MALT and the people involved in Marin County agriculture, Elisabeth has helped create an awareness of our work that will benefit the organization far into the future."

Photo by Hilary Jeffris

Ranches & Rolling Hills hits the airwaves

MALT has gone YouTube and we want to share our first video with you. Check out this interview with Arturo Tello, a founding artist of the Santa Barbara Oak Group and the Ranches & Rolling Hills Landscape Art Show which originated in 1998.

If you've never made it to this touchstone art show, or you simply missed it this year, see some of the artwork that was displayed and hear what Arturo has to say about Ranches & Rolling Hills' 13-year (and counting) legacy.

Also on our Facebook page!

Nicasio Valley Cheese Company  by Thomas Wood

Join the Lafranchi family to celebrate the opening of their new cheese factory, Nicasio Valley Cheese Company. Tour the organic dairy, then sample cheeses and local wines on the deck of the Lafranchi family home overlooking Nicasio Valley. Learn about cheese from Cowgirl Creamery co-owner and MALT board member Sue Conley, who pioneered the artisan cheese movement in Marin as a way to build sustainability and profitability for Marin dairies. Pre-registration required. Read more...

And the lucky winner is...

After the Lafranchi tour we'll be drawing the winning ticket to the MALT spring raffle. Who will dine at The Fork, the new Culinary Education Center at the Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese company? And enjoy the private catered lunch for eight, prepared by Chef Christian Caiazzo of Osteria Stellina and Sue Conley of Cowgirl Creamery? And tour the Giacomini Dairy and cheesemaking facility?  Join us on June 19 to find out.

Raffle tickets still available for sale at the Pinot Noir tasting event on June 12 or by contacting development@malt.org ($10 each / 3 for $25).

Thanks to the state Department of Food and Agriculture and the DMV, California drivers will soon be able to show their support for local ag every time they hit the road. As early as next year, this new special interest license plate could be available, assuming the DMV receives 7,500 paid pledges from vehicle owners. The pledge fees ($50/$98 personalized) and annual renewal fees ($40/$70 personalized) will be used to support Agricultural Education, Career Training and Youth Leadership Development.

Let's all pitch in to help California's future farmers...reserve your license plate today!