A Legacy Rooted in the Land
September 25, 2026Her grandfather went through Ellis Island from Germany, worked on a farm, and eventually was able to buy some land. “He did it from scratch. That land is still being farmed by my cousin and his family today.” She was drawn to 4H, where she found a set of values that stayed with her: service, community, and a commitment to better living. Those principles led her to become a 5th grade teacher, helping the next generation grow.
They met at Iowa State University and married at age 21 before he was sent to Vietnam, a 2nd lieutenant in the Marine Corps. After service, he sold animal feed and was struck by a recurring theme in his conversations with farmers. “I noticed that everything oriented around money.” He wanted to be closer to that driving force. For the remainder of his career, he worked as the manager for a bank, connecting farmers to loans and financial services.
The Spark
When they moved to Rochester in 1972, they fell in love with the land.
They know many local farms and farmers by name. When they started seeing familiar farms and natural spaces turned into housing, it touched their core. They love the look of farmland in its full beauty. They see the economic value of local agriculture and the health benefits of fresh food.
“The land in Rochester is a treasure — the apple orchards, the dairy farms, the fields of wheat and hay — it’s irreplaceable.”
In addition to their annual giving, the couple started formulating a plan to protect what they love about where they live long after they are gone.
The Future
They put their signatures on an updated will at the end of 2025, in the middle of a blizzard, determined to set their plans down in ink. When asked why now, the husband and wife’s words overlap. One says, “We aren’t getting any younger!” The other says, “Make hay when the sun shines.”
Choosing a partner for their legacy plans was a process.
“We worked hard to get where we are. We really wanted something that would meet our vision. We looked into some other options, then our attorney mentioned RACF in a positive way, so we explored it. It was very clear to us once we got meeting people and talking to people that this was the route for us.”
With a cultivated understanding of financial systems, they were motivated by the Community Foundation’s investment expertise, helping their dollars beat inflation and continue growing. They see the fund’s fees as an investment in the staff that will carry forward their vision.
They also value a personal connection, wanting an opportunity to get to know the organization that would shepherd their fund and make the grants. Over the next year, they got to know the people who would steward their investment and help turn their goals into action.
“We wanted to have a partner that does this in lock step with us and knows what our goals are.”
They spelled out the type of land they want to protect — prioritizing farmland in Monroe County and the surrounding counties. They identified the Genesee Land Trust as a local grantee they trusted to do the work. They sat with Community Foundation staff and the Land Trust’s leaders and thought through how their fund would stay flexible and impactful across centuries and changing circumstances. The details will evolve with time. Their vision will guide the way.
They envision a Greater Rochester where beautiful working land and healthy food can always be found — and they’ve chosen a partner they trust to carry their vision forward. They won’t get to see all the ways the landscape shifts with time. But they will know that some of its most precious acres will remain protected because of the plans they made today.
Ready to turn what matters most to you into a lasting legacy? Connect with Kayleigh Rae Stampfler, director of legacy giving, to share your story, explore what’s possible, and create a plan that reflects your vision.
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