Pray Family Receives Mary C Wilson Award

The Pray family, who have been farming in Seekonk and Rehoboth for over 5 generations was awarded the prestigious Mary Wilson Community Conservation Award by the Seekonk Conservation Land Trust at their annual meeting April 9, 2019. Each year this honor is given to a community member who makes an outstanding contribution to the protection of nature and open space in Seekonk.

The Pray Family owns Oakdale Farm, a working vegetable and horticulture farm. The Pray Farm land was first purchased in 1917 and has been in agricultural use since this time. Laura and Michael Smith accepted the award for the family for their recent preservation of farmland with an agricultural restriction which maintains the land for farming use in perpetuity. The farm practices safe and environmentally friendly farming by using Integrated Pest Management systems to produce food for the local community which they sell on site at their Oakdale Farm Country Barn & Garden Shop.

Tom Webb, SCLT President, presented the award before about 40 people who gathered to attend the SCLT 2019 annual meeting held at the Seekonk Library. The SLCT is available to assist local residents who wish to donate or conserve land and receive tax deductions for their donations. The SLCT also protects wildlife habitat, preserves the scenic and rural character of Seekonk, sponsors environmental education in public schools, and supports the Environmental Resource Center at the Library.