You can protect the
Lamkin Farm
Land Legacy
Iconic Good Hart
THE STORY
If you have ever visited “downtown Good Hart,” a big part of its charm is the beautiful farm property that has been lovingly cared for by members of the Lamkin family for close to 150 years. Now, thanks to the Lamkins, a key lead gift, and a handful of generous donors, you have the opportunity to preserve this open space forever.
Once protected, the land will be open to the public. Imagine being able to hike all the way from the Readmond Township beach through the Lamkin farm and end at the Elmer Johnston Nature Preserve, or just walk, bike, or drive M-119 with the peace of mind that this beautiful view scape will always be there. Your generosity can make it happen.
THE LAND
- 112 acres of fields and forest in northern Emmet County
- Close proximity to other protected lands including the Elmer Johnston and Goodhart Farms Nature Preserves
- Thousands of feet of scenic road frontage along M-119, Robinson, and Church Roads
- Stunning views of Lake Michigan
YOUR GIFT
Fundraising to protect this property has already begun, and $1.227 million out of the $1.5 million total cost has been committed.
MATCH ACHIEVED! Thanks to the Carls Foundation, your positive impact was doubled. You achieved their $200,000 challenge grant to match dollar for dollar towards this special project.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Conservancy for this special project, click the Donate button or contact Emily Hughes (below).
PROJECT GOAL : $1,500,000
DEADLINE : July 2023
Emily hughes
chief DEVELOPMENT officer
Naming This Iconic Land
To tell the story of “Woody’s Woods,” the future name of this reserve, we must begin at the beginning, or as Woody would say, “the seed was planted.”
THE SEED: Woody Gardner, an undeniably adventurous and outdoorsy woman, saw the Horace M. Huffman, Jr. “Huffy” Nature Preserve sign along M-119. She then started to notice more and more signs and said, “I wanted to do that too because I appreciate the protected places so much…all of the boardwalks and woods.”
TENDING: “Most people have that thing. That thing where they don’t feel like life is complete without doing it.” Protecting land with Little Traverse Conservancy has “always been right there, waiting for me to do it.” Woody was patient. She needed the right place and the resources necessary to protect it. In 2021 she asked her friend Consie Pierrepont, LTC board trustee, how to protect land through the Conservancy. Over lunch with LTC’s then-Associate Director, Ty Ratliff, Woody learned the process and we learned what kind of land she was hoping to protect. Over the next year Ty sent potential projects to Woody and she would tie on her hiking boots to explore them.
FLOWERING: Eventually Woody and Ty visited the Lamkin Family Farm. After spending time there and reflecting on on the land, she “fell in love with it.”
The seed was planted and with the completion of this protection effort, it will grow. Woody is mom to three grown children: Warner, Ty, and Amelia. All have an appreciation for land and what their mom is doing. Woody’s hope is that her kids will all feel connected to her through this land. Because “it will always be there.”
She ends her story by stating, “It’s not about me, it is about everyone it took to get this property.”
What’s in a name? At that lunch with Ty and Consie they pondered, “What will you call your preserve when you find it?” Someone said, “Woody’s Woods.” The alliteration and meaning really fit. The reserve will now and forever be known as Woody’s Woods.
