Onslow County, NC (February, 2026)— Working Lands Trust (WLT) is proud to announce the successful completion of this agricultural easement closing, permanently conserving 465 acres of working forest in Onslow County. The protection of this land, secured with landowner Mr. Troy Futral and his family in conjunction with state and federal partners, is a tremendous victory for the future of Onslow County agriculture and forestry.
The Futrals’ family legacy spans multiple generations of hardworking agriculturalists that believed in the future of working lands. Mr. Troy Futral shared, “I’m trying to keep it, so that my children can keep it and pass it on to their heirs. I’m just tickled to death that I’ve got it in this conservation easement now. I thank the Lord for guiding me through all this and the journey I’ve had.” He went on to say, “There’s a deep conviction in my heart that my ancestors worked so hard to clear this land to make it into farmable land.” The Futral family is passionate about land conservation and Working Lands Trust is grateful for their partnership.
This conservation milestone represents years of collaborative effort among the landowners, public and private partners, and conservation leaders. It was made possible through generous support from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (ADFPTF) and the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program.
Carmen Lombardo, Government and External Affairs representative for Marine Corps Installation East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, commented, “For the Marine Corps, programs like [this] and other working land and conservation based programs serve as multipliers of our efforts to maintain compatible land use around our military installations.”
Agriculture and forestry are foundational to Onslow County’s economy, culture, and landscape, shaping the rural character that defines much of the community. Working farms and managed forests support local jobs, contribute to food and timber production, and help keep land in productive use for future generations. These working lands also provide critical environmental benefits, including clean water, wildlife habitat, and resilience to flooding and storms. As Onslow County’s development pressure continues to grow, protecting and supporting agriculture and forestry is essential to balancing this development with the long-term health of the land and local economy.
Mikey Fulk, Executive Director of Working Lands Trust, remarked, “By permanently protecting this large tract of working farm and forest, this easement preserves a living piece of North Carolina’s agricultural and forestry legacy. Through the commitment of the Futral Family, and with the support from NCDA and DOD, this land will continue to sustain rural livelihoods, economic vitality, and the working landscape traditions that define our state.”
“The Futral Farm is a prime example of how agriculture and the military work together to preserve critical land in North Carolina,” said the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Farmland Preservation Director Evan Davis. “The Futrals have a true family farm, representing three generations of landowners, and is the first farm preserved in Onslow County that supports the training mission of Camp Lejeune. We are proud to be a partner in this project and look forward to more successes in the future.”
Without funding from federal and state governments, projects that support food security and national security would not be possible. Demand for farmland preservation is at an all-time high, but state and federal funding are falling far short. We encourage state and federal lawmakers to fully fund farmland preservation programs so this important work can continue.
Associate Director, Lisa Shealy who has been a part of this project since its inception shared, “Working with the Futral family to secure an agricultural conservation easement on their land is a powerful testament to generational stewardship. Forever is a long time, and with the Futral family’s dedication, we have guaranteed that their land will remain available for food and fiber production in perpetuity. This conservation partnership protects the land’s natural heritage, honoring the past by securing the future.”