Washington Farmland Trust permanently protects 47 acres of last remaining commercial dairy farm in Pierce County
Haugen Dairy, a three-generation family farm near Buckley, sees future secured through conservation easement.
Courtesy of Washington Farmland Trust
Washington Farmland Trust has permanently protected 47 acres of land farmed by Haugen Dairy, one of the last remaining commercial dairy farms in Pierce County, through a conservation easement that ensures the land will remain in agricultural production forever.
The certified organic, third-generation family farm has long been an important part of Pierce County’s agricultural landscape. The Haugen family currently farms approximately 600 acres, but leases most of the land. Permanently protecting the 47 acres provides greater certainty that the dairy’s operation will remain available for agriculture, helping strengthen the farm’s long-term viability.
“Partnering with dairy farms is critical in farmland conservation,” said Melissa Campbell, Executive Director of the WA Farmland Trust. “Because they require large, contiguous tracts of land, protecting dairies helps preserve large swaths of our landscape while ensuring that working lands continue producing food, supporting healthy watersheds, providing wildlife habitat, and strengthening the resilience of our communities.”
Funding for the conservation easement was provided by the Washington State Department of Ecology and Pierce County through the Floodplains by Design and Floodplains for the Future programs, which support projects that protect working lands while improving floodplain function and community resilience.
“Family farms are part of the fabric of Pierce County’s history, and this investment protects that legacy for generations,” said Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello. “Working farms like Haugen Dairy are essential to our economy, our environment, and our quality of life. For two decades we have partnered with Washington Farmland Trust to preserve local food production, support farm families, and protect open space. This conservation easement is an investment in Pierce County’s future.”
The 47-acre parcel is located on the Buckley Plateau in eastern Pierce County which historically supported many mid-scale dairy and livestock farms in the prairies between the White and Carbon Rivers. With its proximity to urban centers and its unobstructed views of Mount Rainier, the Plateau has become an attractive location for development, putting continued pressure on local farms and fragmenting the landscape. By purchasing the conservation easement, Washington Farmland Trust has safeguarded the land while lowering the purchase price for the Haugen family, allowing them to continue farming in the region.
“As an organic dairy, having permanent access to pasture is critical to our operation. While we lease much of the land we farm, protecting and purchasing these acres gives us greater stability and confidence that we’ll be able to continue farming for generations to come,” said BJ Haugen, owner of Haugen Dairy. “With development happening all around us, this easement ensures this land will remain farmland forever while helping us continue producing high-quality organic milk for our community.”
Washington Farmland Trust works alongside farmers, landowners, and partners to permanently protect the farmland that sustains Washington’s communities, economy, and food system. The conservation of Haugen Dairy brings its total conserved acres to more than 4,000 across the state, and ensures these working lands remain available for future farmers.
About Washington Farmland Trust
Washington Farmland Trust is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and accredited land trust that protects and stewards threatened farmland across the state. The organization keeps land in production by making it accessible to a new generation of farmers. Since its founding in 1999, Washington Farmland Trust has conserved 38 farms, more than 4,000 acres, across Washington. Learn more at wafarmlandtrust.org.
About Haugen Dairy
Haugen Dairy is an organic dairy farm operating on nearly 600 acres in Buckley, Washington. Haugen Dairy has been pasturing dairy cows and producing high-quality, organic milk for the local community for three generations.
