‘Be Good to the Land’

Spoken more than 150 years ago by Philip James Jones, the credo is engraved in a large stone monument at the Jones Family Farms and Winery in Shelton, Connecticut, run by Terry Jones (Philip’s great-great-grandson) and wife Jean, both UNH class of 1969. The couple was recently honored as the 2023 recipients of the Sand County Foundation’s New England Leopold Conservation Award, which recognizes those who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife resources in their care.

Terry traces the origin of his conservation ethic to his childhood, working on his family’s 500+-acre farm — then a dairy farm — alongside his father and grandfather. As a teen, he sold vegetables on a card table to families coming to their farm to buy raw milk — with proceeds from his sales helping to pay his tuition at UNH.

Terry and Jean are stellar examples of our alumni aligning their intellectual curiosity and capacity with their commitment to land and community,” says Anthony S. Davis, dean of the UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture.

The farm has evolved: dairy cows were sold, Christmas trees added, and while still a student at UNH, Terry added pick-your-own strawberries to the offerings. The farm grew to include blueberries, vegetables, pumpkins and more. All along, the family honored their roots by adopting conservation practices that have produced high-quality crops while benefiting the environment.

Terry also credits the time he spent at UNH with influencing his success as both a farmer and a conservationist.

“UNH laid a firm foundation for my belief in following the road of lifelong learning,” he says. “I was inspired by several professors, even outside my forestry and plant science major. Members of the UNH community have been mentors and helped me grow our business and lead a fulfilling life.”

The couple met at UNH and continue to support the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture and other areas, such as the Fairchild Fund for Animal Sciences and the Ecogastronomy Fund, to benefit UNH students.

Their grandson, Jackson Jones ’27, is a sustainable agriculture and food systems major at UNH.

“After I get my degree, I plan to return to my family’s farm to continue their extensive work in sustainable agriculture and the preservation of farmlands.”