Southampton - The Peconic Land Trust's Eighth Annual "Through Farms and Fields" Benefit, a spectacular Country Supper, will be at the property of the Salm family, the historic Port of Missing Men, on North Sea Road in Southampton on Sunday, August 1, from 5:30 p.m. until. . .

The Port of Missing Men, a historic hunting estate on Scallop Pond, is adjacent to over a thousand acres of protected land. Through Farms and Fields celebrates the local bounty of the East End – from the amazing salad greens and vegetables of our farms, to the fresh fish from our shores, to the wonderful wines of our vineyards. Please join us as we celebrate all the wonders we are so fortunate to enjoy and the people who make it all happen – our farmers, our fishermen, and our winemakers.

"We are incredibly excited about this year's event. Having the location of the Port of Missing Men, overlooking Scallop Pond, and the support of our hosts the Salm Family, who could not be more generous, will make Through Farms and Fields a truly special evening in support of land conservation in our community," said John v.H. Halsey, President of the Peconic Land Trust.

The supper will feature local foods, prepared by Chef Joe Realmuto of Nick & Toni's, and wines from Grapes of Roth and Wolffer Estate Vineyards, as well as a new merlot from the Peconic Land Trust's own vineyard. Joining our hosts for the evening is our event chair, Nancy Gilbert, who is also chair of the Peconic Land Trust Board of Directors. Generous support for the event has come from sponsors The Corcoran Group (for the sixth year in a row), Bridgehampton National Bank, Herrick Hardware, Artisan Mortgage Company, The Bridgehampton Equity Group, Tate's Bake Shop, Tiffany & Co., Wines by Morrell, VOSS Water USA, Charlie Whitmore Gardens, Joe & Liza's Ice Cream, Mosquito Squad, and fill-r-up. Edible East End and Edible Manhattan are the media sponsors. Special table runners, made from the fabric from the new Hampton Toile collection will line the dinner tables and will be available for purchase at the end of the evening.

And, we are also pleased to announce that we will once again have our distinctive Experience Auction – featuring wonderful activities on Long Island as well as NYC – with local radio star Bonnie Grice of 88.3FM Peconic Public Broadcasting serving as our special Auctioneer. The Trust's live and silent auction will include a wonderful array of unique and memorable experiences, including a private Breakfast at Tiffany's party in East Hampton; an aerial photograph of your home or favorite East End location; and a private tour of Shellfisher Preserve in Southold with an oyster and beer tasting; among others.

The evening's entertainment will include live music and dancing with The Annie Morgan Band; and a special children's activity tent will also be part of the evening's festivities, provided by the Children's Museum of the East End.

Founded in 1983 by John v.H. Halsey and a small group of local residents, the Trust works to ensure the protection of Long Island's working farms, natural lands, and heritage. Since its inception, the Trust has worked diligently with landowners, donors, local government, communities, and partner organizations to protect over 10,000 acres of land on Long Island.

About The Port Of Missing Men
(Excerpted from an article by Fred R. Smith, which will appear in the event program): The fantastical name, POMM, has a double meaning: It honors the sailors who were drowned in the wreck of the Lykens Valley in nearby Peconic Bay in l893; it also celebrates the reason for the all-comforts shooting preserve. The welcoming Colonial Revival style house, designed by Henry Russell Pope, architect of the Jefferson Memorial, has an interior decorated for men-and-their-dogs-at-ease, gone missing while escaping the black tie and satin gown Southampton social whirl. Ninety years after its founding, POMM remains a "shooting box," a glorious meeting of field and woodlands, bays and ponds, sheltering home for wildlife, preserved and protected by the heirs of the founding visionary.

The cost is $3,000 for a Benefactor-level table of ten (10); $600 for a Patron-level ticket for two (2); Individual tickets at $250; children's tickets are $50.

Event Committee: Paige Campbell, Lisa Caracciolo, Rebecca A. Chapman, Emma Clurman, Susan D'Alessio, Yvette DeBow-Salsedo, Maura Doyle, Harriet Dresher, Barbara Frerichs, Robin Harris, Melissa Pearsall-Hirsch, Shira Kalish, Kathy Kennedy, Kristina Klug, Diana Kolhoff, Hilary Leff, Dawn Liubenov, Pingree Louchheim, Patty Orben, Christina Lowris-Panos, Lisa Rose, Bob Schaeffer, Barbara Shedden, Eileen Dawn Skretch, Fred Smith, Terry Stevens, Rand Stoll, Liza Tremblay, Richard Udice, Sally Van Erk, Paula Yount, Jeanne Zaykowski.

For more information go to www.peconiclandtrust.org, or call 631-283-3195, or email to events@peconiclandtrust.org.

About The Peconic Land Trust
The Peconic Land Trust was established in 1983 to conserve Long Island's working farms and natural lands. Since its inception, the nonprofit Trust has worked conscientiously with landowners, donors, local government, partner organizations, and communities to conserve over 10,000 acres of land on Long Island. The Trust's professional staff carries out the necessary research and planning to identify and implement alternatives to outright development. While working to conserve the productive farms, watersheds, woodlands, and beachfront of Long Island, the Trust is also protecting the unique rural heritage and natural resources of the region. The Trust has Stewardship Centers in Cutchogue and Amagansett and its Main Office is in Southampton. A common misperception, however, is that the Peconic Land Trust is the recipient of the monies raised through the Peconic Bay Region Community Preservation Fund (also referred to as the 2% land transfer tax or the Peconic Land Tax). This is NOT the case. The CPF tax is collected by Suffolk County and then redistributed to the five East End towns, the distribution of which is based on the location of the property from which the tax is acquired.