Kathy Orlando

Kathy Orlando is executive director for land protection at the Sheffield Land Trust. “We work to protect land that’s important to the whole rural character of Sheffield—agricultural land, wildlife areas, scenic, historic, within the town of Sheffield,” says Orlando. The Trust protects over 5,000 acres in the town and owns another 400 acres of farmland, mountainside, and trails. “She communicates with the farmers, identifies priorities, and connects with donors,” says Dale Abrams, education and volunteer coordinator at Mass Audubon and vice president of the Great Barrington Land Conservancy. “Kathy works tirelessly to preserve Sheffield’s agricultural legacy, which is unique in the Berkshires. As the neighboring land trust, we admire the permanent impact she has achieved.”