Until her retirement on June 17th, 2016, Elizabeth Emlen worked for over two decades to preserve many farms in Montgomery County in her position as the county’s dedicated Senior Farmland Preservation Administrator. Elizabeth arrived at the Montgomery County Planning Commission in April 1997 with a degree in Agriculture from Cornell University, as well as direct experience assisting farmers in Ecuador while serving with the Peace Corps and in New York State as the farm agent in Fulton County.
Her passion for agriculture began at an early age, sparked by her membership in the local chapter of 4-H while growing up in Ambler, PA. During her career in Montgomery County she was directly responsible for the preservation of 6,456 acres on 125 farms. Elizabeth has worked closely with farmers, members of the Montgomery County Agricultural Lands Preservation Board, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, municipalities, and various conservation organizations to ensure that the best farms in Montgomery County would remain in farming forever.
As an agricultural professional, well respected by her peers, Elizabeth has also held several prominent positions on statewide agriculture boards and committees. In her retirement, she will continue to live on her farm in western Montgomery County and occasionally travel. Though she may be retired from the County, don’t be surprised to see Elizabeth remain an active and productive member of local farming organizations. Best wishes, Elizabeth!
