Ag Allies

06/04/2026

⚠️Volunteer Team Member Alert ⚠️

Say hello 👋to the phenomenal 🚀Julia!

Ag Allies is beyond thrilled to have Julia joining our team as a volunteer!

05/04/2026

We don’t want to jinx it… but spring is starting to peek around the corner here in Maine. 🌱 The snowbanks are shrinking, the days are stretching, and there’s a certain kind of optimism in the air that only mud season can bring.

Even more exciting? We’re already seeing some familiar faces return. 👀🐦
Robins are back, red winged blackbirds are staking out their territories and making sure everyone knows it, and we’ve started spotting song sparrows and common grackles joining the chorus. It’s the early soundtrack of spring and a sure sign that the season is shifting. 🎶

And you know what that means…

Our favorite travelers are on the move. ✈️

That’s right, the bobolinks have officially packed their bags, triple checked their
itineraries, and made their way through the very exclusive “TSA (Tweet Security
Administration)” line. 😄 Passports stamped, wings prepped, and playlists queued, they’ve begun their incredible journey back to what we all know is the ultimate vacation destination, Maine. 🗺️

These tiny but mighty birds travel thousands of miles from South America to return to our fields and farms each year. 🌎 We are on the lookout. 👀
Our bobolink friends will be completing their journey and touching down in fields near you early to mid-May, ready to get down to the business of nesting. 🪺

Want to follow along on their journey? 🧭
Track the Bobolink migration in real time here:
👉 https://explorer.audubon.org/explore/species/1207/bobolink/migration

And while they’re making their way north, we’ve got some exciting news of our own on the horizon. 👀✨ We can’t share all the details just yet, but let’s just say… this season is shaping up to be a great one for Ag Allies and our community. 🌿

It’s a great reminder that while we’re gearing up for the season ahead, nature is already in motion and we’re all part of that bigger story. 🌎

We’re looking forward to another season of collaboration, conservation, and connection with all of you. 🤝
More updates and maybe a few more bird travel stories coming soon.

Until then, keep an eye on the skies… they’re headed our way!

With excitement for the season ahead,
The Ag Allies Team

14/02/2026

24/12/2025

Across cultures and traditions, we share gratitude for our natural world - and for the communities who care for and protect it 🌍💛

As Emily Dickinson reminds us, hope sings without words, connecting us all.

We saw that hope and heard the song throughout 2025 in the people and partnerships that made conservation possible.

This year, together we:
🌾 Enhanced breeding conditions on 3,000+ acres of grasslands, including 1,000 acres stewarded by legacy landowners
🤝 Provided technical support to 202 landowners, including 80 legacy landowners
🌱 Partnered with 13 land trusts to advance regional conservation goals
💪 Benefited from 175 volunteer hours supporting field and program work

We are deeply grateful for every hand, heart, and habitat that carried this work forward.

21/12/2025

As the longest night of the year 🌌 arrives, we’re reminded that even in darkness, hope endures.

Emily Dickinson said it best:
“Hope is the thing with feathers…” 🕊️

In 2025, that hope took flight across Maine. Ag Allies protected 700+ breeding pairs of birds, including:
• 500 Bobolinks
• 70 Savannah Sparrows
• 22 Eastern Meadowlarks
• 2 American Kestrels
• 1 American Bittern

On this longest night, we pause to reflect on a year of meaningful work—and the hope that carries us forward.

💛 What gave you hope in 2025?

20/12/2025

As the year winds down, we pause to reflect on the moments, partnerships, and progress that have carried us through 2025.

Hope, like the birds we work to protect, remains a constant companion - quietly perching in our hearts, guiding us forward.

This poem, a team favorite, reminds us of that enduring hope.

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all.
– Emily Dickinson

Over the next few posts, we’ll share reflections and gratitude from the Ag Allies team.

We invite you to join us—what moments of hope have carried you through this year?

18/12/2025

Heather’s enthusiasm, experience, and care for Maine’s land and farmers make her a wonderful addition - we can’t wait to see all that we’ll accomplish together! 🫱🏽‍🫲🏼🚀

💚 Welcome to the team Heather 💚

17/12/2025

With her background in natural resources and nonprofit work across Maine, Heather brings great experience and fresh perspective to the Somerset County SWCD and Ag Allies partnership.

We’re looking forward to learning and growing together as she steps into her new role! 👐🌱

15/12/2025

Last, but certainly not least for staff introductions - Meet Heather Holland, our valued partner from the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District! 🤝🌿🌟

Heather has recently stepped into her role at the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District and will help coordinate our partnership and provide key administrative support to the Ag Allies program.

As a farmer herself, she understands firsthand the balance between productive farmland and healthy wildlife habitat. 🌿💛

13/12/2025

Christie is a wonderful addition to the Ag Allies team. We’re thrilled to have her helping support our mission every day! 🌱💚

11/12/2025

We took Christie out into the field during her first week for some soil sampling experience. We’re excited to share that she was a natural! 🎯🌱🪣

Christie’s main focus at Ag Allies will be strengthening our business processes, refining our strategy, and supporting our many important partnerships.⚙️📆📌

Her enthusiasm is truly motivating!

09/12/2025

There's a fresh face in the fields with Ag Allies! 🏞🌾

Welcome Christie Bane to Ag Allies! 🎉 Christie is the newest member of our team, bringing fresh ideas and energy to our programs. We’re excited to have her on board!