CHARLES TOWN The Jefferson County Commission appointed Elizabeth Wheeler as administrator of the County Farmland Protection Program at its meeting on Feb. 17.

Wheeler, a resident of Shepherdstown, has experience in program development of farmland conservation and farm-to-table programs. As administrator of the program, Wheeler will be employed by the Jefferson County Development Authority and work under the direction of the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Board

At this time there are 24 farms with 2,270 acres in the Jefferson County Farmland Protection Program. The County Commission recently approved matching funds for the purchase of conservation easements on a further eight farms with 779 acres. Wheeler will be responsible for the monitoring and maintenance of existing easements and the processing and completion of pending and future applications.

Information about the Jefferson County Program can be found at www.wvfarmlandprotection.org or by calling 304-728-3255 or 304-724-1414.