The Vermont Federation Fund for Conservation and Training (VTFCT) has completed the acquisition of 2 contiguous parcels of land, totaling about 4 acres on what is known as Lily Pond, located at the northernmost end of Lake St Catherine in Poultney, the group announced today.

“The Federation Fund is very pleased to continue its legacy of conservation for the benefit of all Vermonters. In addition to land we already hold that is open to the public, we have now expanded our holdings to include this critical wetland acreage, which will also be open to the public,” Federation Fund President Roy Marble said.

Beyond the Lily Pond acreage just acquired, the VTFCT previously purchased about 80 acres of prime forestland to provide public access to the Blueberry Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Castleton.

To make this happen, Terry Williams (Southern Vice President of the VTFSC) worked closely with the Poultney Fish & Game Club (PF&G), an organization recently recognized by the Poultney Chamber of Commerce for its stellar community involvement, with PF&G committing to assist with public access to the Lily Pond tract.

Williams, recently elected to the Vermont Senate for Rutland County, stated: “While acquiring land which will be kept open for public use is the most important aspect, when the VTFCT and the VTFSC does something like this, we not only take on the tax liability for that land, we also take on the responsibility of maintaining it, with Vermonters being the real winners.”

The VTFCT is the 501(c)3 arm of the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs (VTFSC), an organization founded in 1875 and which represents over 50 Sporting Clubs in Vermont, is the primary donor to the VTFCT through money raised at their annual banquets.

Tax-deductible donations can be made to the VTFCT by being sent to VTFCT, 14 Stafford Ave, Morristown, VT 05661.