Creekland Farms, a multi‑generational family farm tucked between Greenville, Spartanburg and Columbia, has long been a bastion for Hereford cattle, Polled Shorthorn breeds, Rhode Island Red chickens and thoroughbred horses. The land’s rural character has been a cornerstone of the family’s identity.
Laurens County ranks as South Carolina’s third‑fastest‑growing county, with new residential and commercial developments spreading across the Upstate. The pressure to convert open space into housing has intensified, threatening the continuity of farms like Creekland. In 2025, the family chose a permanent conservation strategy to anchor the property.
The family granted a conservation easement covering 2,000 acres, a move hailed by The Nature Conservancy as the largest in the county’s history. Under the easement, development rights are permanently limited while the owners retain ownership and can continue agricultural, forestry and recreational activities. The easement will be overseen by the Nature Conservancy to ensure compliance.
The easement connects Creekland to the 170,000‑acre Enoree District of the Sumter National Forest, creating a contiguous landscape that supports wildlife movement and water quality. By preserving this corridor, the family helps buffer the forest from fragmentation caused by rapid suburban expansion. The easement is expected to serve as a model for balancing growth and conservation in the region.