Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s annual gala, Returns to the Land, will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the dazzling Riveredge Farm in Cecil County.
Riveredge Farm, a 531-acre property preserved with a conservation easement held by ESLC, is owned by John and Leslie Malone. John Malone, chairman of Liberty media and longtime telecommunications executive, owns 2.2 million acres in the United States, more than any other person.
The property is home to Hassler Dressage and features a stunning European-style lodge house and an indoor dressage arena.
Cayots Corner near Chesapeake City, the heart of Cecil County horse country, is home to the largest area of contiguous, privately owned, preserved property on the Mid-Shore, with more than 3,500 acres under easement. Riveredge is surrounded by farms famed for breeding a Kentucky Derby winner and Olympic dressage contenders.
The gala will feature hors d’oeuvres by The Grille at Back Creek and cocktails, live music by acoustic guitarist Pres Harding, and a dressage demonstration led by Suzanne Hassler. The demonstration will give guests, viewing from inside the entertainment lodge, a glimpse into the Olympic sport of dressage.
A silent and live auction, featuring celebrity auctioneer Stephen Isaacson, will include four box seats to an Orioles game, four 50-yard-line tickets to the Baltimore Ravens, a guided canoe paddle on the Sassafras with Wayne Gilchrest, weekend and week-long trips, an airplane ride, golf packages, a spring migration bird banding expedition, a two-hour combine ride on an Eastern Shore farm, artwork by acclaimed Chesapeake artist Marc Castelli, hunting expeditions, and more.
Proceeds from this event benefit Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. ESLC has saved nearly 54,000 acres on Maryland’s Eastern Shore since 1990. The organization helps save land and promotes sound land use planning from the C&O Canal in Cecil County to the Nanticoke River in Dorchester County. ESLC is committed to preserving and sustaining the vibrant communities of the Eastern Shore and the lands and waters that connect them.
ESLC also is working to create the Eastern Shore Conservation Center in the former McCord Laundry building and the neighboring Brick Row, in downtown Easton. The facility would create a working home for our employees and for other organizations and businesses. This hub of activity will spark collaboration and innovation around conservation at a new scale for the Eastern Shore.
Sponsors of this year’s gala include Corporate Grand Prix Presenter Budweiser; Grand Prix Underwriters Brown Advisory, Mr & Mrs. Richard C. Granville, and John and Peggy Moag; Media Sponsor Spy Publications; Sponsors Akridge Family Foundation, Louisa Duemling, Caroline D. Gabel, Michael Hash, Charlotte Hawes, Joe & Marianne Hickman, Nina Rodale Houghton, Mr. & Mrs. William Jeanes, Mike & Mary Scheeler, Scheeler Seeds LLC, Beverly & Richard Tilghman, and Turner’s Creek Farm; Benefactors Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Hummel, Dr. & Mrs. Ronald L. Klimes, James T. Mullin, Phil & Irmy Webster, and Mrs. Louise S. Widdup; Patrons Mr.& Mrs. James Campbell, Mayor Caroline S. Cline, Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Etgen, Christian Havemeyer, Mr. & Mrs. Alexander H. Hoon, Mr. & Mrs. C. A. Porter Hopkins, Judith C. Kohl, William F. & Todd W. McQueen, Gail Owings, Chuck & Betsy Petty, Jane H. Scott, Stagwell Limited partnership, John Wilson, and Mr. & Mrs. John M. Yowell.
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