BEALE FAMILY PROPERTIES
Beale Family Property, Wilkes Co, 93 acres & 300 acres Blue Ridge Conservancy is now the owner of 393 acres of farmland and river frontage in Wilkes County thanks to a generous gift from the estate of Dr. Judith Beale. Dr. Beale’s love for the outdoors was well-known, and her donation to BRC encompasses two large tracts of undeveloped land: 93 acres outside Elkin and 300 acres on the Yadkin River, including ½ mile of river frontage. As part of its mission to permanently protect natural resources with agricultural value in northwest North Carolina, BRC will place both properties under conservation easements, which are legal agreements that will permanently keep the property in agricultural use. 213 acres of the Beale properties are noted as “prime farmland,” a designation assigned by the US Department of Agriculture for land that has the best combination of characteristics for producing crops. “Blue Ridge Conservancy is humbled by Dr. Beale’s generosity,” says BRC Executive Director Charlie Brady. “The Beale farm provides an important opportunity to permanently protect farmland along the Yadkin River in a historic section of Wilkes County. Equally exciting is protecting the corridor for the Overmountain Victory State Trail (OVST) and National Historic Trail. A trail easement across the Beale farm could become the keystone for the OVST to connect the towns of Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro, and Elkin.”
“Growing up, Judith Beale spent many hours walking around her family farms. As an avid walker throughout her life, Judy would have enjoyed the future trails that would connect two of her many loves, the family farm, and the town of Elkin. Her father, Dr. Seth M. Beale, who was loved throughout Elkin and Wilkes County, loved farming and he would be ecstatic to know that the farmland will be kept in agricultural use.” - Seth Beale, Judith Beale’s nephew
Leave Your Legacy on the Land - Planned Giving
Estate gifts like Dr. Beale’s protect undeveloped land in perpetuity and demonstrate a deep-rooted commitment to conservation. This means that our children, our grandchildren, and all future generations will be blessed with the same clean mountain air, fresh drinking water, and healthy local foods that we enjoy today. It means they will have even greater opportunities to explore the natural world. And it means the inherent spirit of this region, the natural and cultural heritage that makes our mountains such a special place to call home, will endure. What better way to make your own contribution to this legacy than to include a gift to BRC in your will?
If you have included BRC in your estate plan, we would appreciate the opportunity to thank you for your support. To notify us of a planned estate gift or to learn more about BRC’s planned giving opportunities contact Caroline Poteat at 828264-2511 or caroline@blueridgeconservancy.org.
There are many ways to make an estate gift to BRC: Bequests: A bequest is one of the easiest and most flexible ways to leave a gift to BRC through your estate. Gifts of cash, securities, or other property can be included in your will or living trust. Retirement Accounts: You may designate BRC as a beneficiary of your IRA, 401k, or other retirement savings plan. Life Insurance. You may name BRC as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy. Real Property: BRC can accept gifts of real estate, with or without high conservation value. Properties with high conservation value will be preserved. Properties without high conservation value will be sold, and the income used to support BRC’s mission. Life Income Gifts: Life income gifts allow you to make a gift to BRC while guaranteeing income for yourself or your family in the future. Gift options include Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Unitrusts, and Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts.
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