The Butler County Agricultural Land Preservation Board will close on its 66th farm in September.

Kim Geyer, county commissioner, said the most recent farm to be preserved from development in perpetuity is the 88-acre Thurber Farm in Clearfield Township.

While the county board normally approves the farms to join the agricultural preservation program, the state agriculture board approved the Thurber farm because federal funds paid for its easement.

Half of the original easement price for the farm, which equals $51,000, will be returned to the county board to help pay the easement for then next farm to be preserved.

Geyer said the local board works on preserving three farms per year with director Sheryl Kelly at the helm.

With the closing of the 66th farm in the fall, Butler County will have preserved more than 6,900 acres from development.