A Day in the Country is a beloved farm-to-fork celebration that brings together farmers, chefs, food and beverage producers, volunteers, sponsors and community members. Photo courtesy of Yolo Land Trust

DAVIS, CA (MPG) – On a cool September afternoon, more than 350 people gathered among the almond trees at Gill Orchards in Davis to celebrate local agriculture and support Yolo Land Trust’s mission to conserve farmland in Yolo County. 

The occasion was Yolo Land Trust’s 37th annual A Day in the Country, a beloved farm-to-fork celebration that brings together farmers, chefs, food and beverage producers, volunteers, sponsors and community members. Guests enjoyed an afternoon of seasonal dishes prepared by local chefs, paired with wines and beers from regional producers, all while surrounded by the farmland that makes the celebration possible. 

But the setting was more than a beautiful backdrop of almond trees. The 120-acre Gill Orchards is itself a story of farmland conservation. 

Gill Orchards is a third-generation farming operation currently managed by Amar Gill.

 “My family’s farming history began in this region in 1965, and we have a deep love for the land,” said Gill. “We farm almonds, pistachios and cling peaches across Yolo and Sutter counties, overseeing every step from the initial planting of the trees to the final harvest. We chose to establish a conservation easement on this farm with Yolo Land Trust in 2024, allowing us to protect the farms future as farmland forever.” 

An agricultural conservation easement is a voluntary agreement between a landowner and a land trust that permanently protects farmland from development for non-farming uses. The land remains privately owned and can continue to be farmed, sold or passed on to future generations.

Yolo Land Trust (YLT) is a nonprofit-organization located in Woodland, CA that has a simple but vital mission – to conserve farmland in Yolo County. Photo courtesy of Yolo Land Trust

“With its prime agricultural soils, productive orchard, open space and location just a half mile from the Davis city limits, this property is an important piece of Yolo County’s agricultural future,” said John Currey, executive director of Yolo Land Trust. “Its proximity to other farms conserved by Yolo Land Trust also helps create a more connected landscape of protected farmland, reducing fragmentation from urban development and providing greater stability for farming into the future.” 

That connection between farmland and food came to life throughout the afternoon. Participating chefs received fresh, seasonal ingredients from more than ten local growers and producers, transforming them into small plates for guests to enjoy, creating a direct connection between the land where food is grown and the people who gathered to enjoy it. Twelve restaurants participated, including Mulvaney’s B&L, The Waterboy, Good Pantry Napa, Kitchen 428, Chez Panisse, Preserve and The Hive. Guests were also welcomed by three trailers filled with almonds freshly harvested from Gill Orchards just one day earlier. 

Woodland’s The Bottom Dwellers provided the soundtrack as guests savored local food and panoramic views of the surrounding farmland. For Melissa Harlan, chair of Yolo Land Trust’s Outreach and Development Committee, the gathering was a powerful reminder of why protecting farmland matters. 

“We are deeply grateful to the Gill family for welcoming us to their farm and to everyone who helped make this celebration of agriculture possible,” said Harlan. “A Day in the Country really makes the importance of protecting farmland tangible. It was inspiring to stand in the middle of a productive farm, seeing people of all ages and backgrounds come together to support farmers and ensure the land that feeds our communities remains part of Yolo County’s future.”

Since its founding in 1988, Yolo Land Trust has permanently conserved more than 13,080 acres across 79 farms and ranches in Yolo County. These lands continue to produce food, support wildlife, preserve open space and sustain the agricultural character of the region. 

“The land that guests gathered on for A Day in the Country will continue to grow food and nourish our community for generations to come,” said Stacy Wear, development and communications manager of Yolo Land Trust. “Bringing people onto conserved farms allows us to celebrate what this land provides today while helping build support for protecting it for the future.” 

That work is made possible through the generosity of the community. More than 40 sponsors, along with ticket purchasers, donors, farmers, chefs, food and beverage partners and volunteers, helped bring A Day in the Country to life. Special thanks go to volunteer teams from Pioneer High School, Esparto High School FFA, AgWest Farm Credit, Bayer, HM Clause, Rotary Club of Davis and Yolo Land Trust’s Board of Directors. Additionally, appreciation and many thanks go to Paul Muller and everyone at Full Belly Farm, whose work behind the scenes helps bring Yolo County’s farms to the table at A Day in the Country. 

The farms, orchards and fields that define Yolo County are under increasing pressure from development, climate challenges and rising costs. Conserving farmland today helps ensure that these landscapes can continue producing food, providing wildlife habitat, preserving open space and supporting the agricultural heritage of the region for generations to come. 

Thank you to all that supported A Day in the Country and helped move Yolo Land Trust’s mission forward. Together, we are helping ensure that farmland remains farmland forever. 

More details and event photos can be found online at theyololandtrust.org/day-in-the-country.