The Land Trust for Tennessee Honors Phil Bredesen at Once in a Blue Moon

Tennessee’s rolling hills, lush mountains and biodiverse waterways are just some of the rich beauties that have captivated people for thousands of years. Over 93% of the state is open space — public and private land untouched and unobstructed by buildings or other structures. But preserving this natural beauty is no small task. For 25 years, The Land Trust for Tennessee has stayed true to its mission to work with landowners and developers to preserve one of Tennessee’s greatest natural resources — land.

Land Trust Legacy

In 1999, what looked like a mismatched assemblage of businesspeople and politicians from both sides of the political aisle gathered in the living room of then-Mayor Phil Bredesen to establish a new conservation organization — The Land Trust for Tennessee. The group felt inspired to start the new nonprofit after noticing development encroaching on green spaces, a budding trend the mayor thought would only increase. 

The newly formed organization originally had one employee, Jeanie Nelson, who was hired under the pretense that the role was — as Byron Trauger recounted at Once in a Blue Moon — “going to be an easy lift, just a part-time job.” In the early days, land conservation received less cultural focus. “It was often seen as an environmental cause,” notes Liz McLaurin, president and CEO of The Land Trust for Tennessee. “People now recognize land conservation as vital for maintaining the state’s unique character and protecting resources that impact quality of life.”

Land being threatened by developers is a familiar story to organizations like The Land Trust for Tennessee. One success the nonprofit likes to point to is Bentontown, a 49-acre property located just south of Leiper’s Fork. In 2015, Bentontown was for sale. The pristine expanse not only had beautiful views of the Natchez Trace Parkway, but it also held the ruins of the Thomas Hart Benton home. It was not long before a mixed-use complex developer had the property under contract. After countless meetings and lots of community outcry, three local families came together to purchase the property. And in 2018, they donated a conservation easement to The Land Trust to protect it in perpetuity.

Today, The Land Trust has become a nationally recognized thought leader in land conservation. It has helped protect over 136,000 acres of land — almost 10 times the size of Manhattan — in 76 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. “In recent years, conservation has increasingly been viewed through the lens of resilience and sustainability,” says Liz. “Communities across Tennessee now see conserved land as essential for maintaining local food production, protecting against flooding and fostering outdoor recreation and tourism, all of which support local economies.”

Under the Moon

Stepping through the threshold of the historic barn at The Land Trust for Tennessee’s Glen Leven Farm at twilight is always a serene experience. Guests of this year’s annual Once in a Blue Moon had even more reason to feel reverence. The evening marked the celebration of 25 years of land conservation in the state of Tennessee through the creation of The Land Trust. As guests approached the field and dinner tent, the energy felt vibrant. The night was alive with the magic of a pristine, preserved green space at dusk.

Co-chairs Susannah and Zulu Scott-Barnes and Michelle and Aubrey Preston created a truly special evening — sparing no detail to mark the milestone occasion. They visited vivaciously as guests enjoyed cocktails, like the Ginger Basil Smash, and listened to music by Bourbon Revival. After the reception, guests sat down for a delicious, rustic dinner. 

Tennessee state Reps. Greg Vital and Caleb Hemmer took the stage to present a joint resolution, HJR 989, recognizing the 25th anniversary of The Land Trust for Tennessee. Later, filmmaker Andrew Kornylak premiered a new short film, “Be a Part of the Story,” that brings The Land Trust’s journey to life, honors its founder Phil Bredesen and highlights its innovative, data-driven vision for the future.

After the film, former Gov. Bredesen gave a heartfelt and personal speech about the impact green spaces had on him as a 12-year-old child, and about his hopes for The Land Trust’s future. “I don’t know if 100 years from now we’ll be playing football in the United States,” he said. “And I don’t know if 100 years from now there’ll be parties like the Democratic and Republican parties we have today. But what I do know is that there will be those 12-year-old children who are learning from and being nourished by what is being preserved by this land trust.”