Agricultural Easement - 554 Acres, 2002

This 553-acre Smith family ranch is located adjacent to and south of the Spenceville Wildlife Preserve. The Smiths decided to put the cattle ranch under a conservation easement to keep it in one piece and encourage continued productive use. Except for a period during and after World War II, it has been in the family since Dawson Nichols first settled in the area in the 1850s. The Smith's family history recounts the days when Native Americans would set up their summer camp on a hill overlooking the ranch house.

The ranch has been protected under a "working landscape" agricultural easement that will run with the deed. It allows for a variety of productive uses, including grazing or growing crops but cannot be subdivided. The property abounds with blue and live oaks, and has a small stream running through the property. There are also several ponds on the property that add to its productive and wildlife habitat value. The area is known for being good habitat for many species of raptors.