The PFH Conservation Fund (PFHCF) hosted its annual Landowner Appreciation Reception on September 22, 2026, at the historic horse show grounds at Salem Farm, generously hosted by landowner Shelby Bonnie, MFH. The evening brought together the Piedmont Fox Hounds community, and the landowners whose generosity, trust and stewardship support the hunt and allow us to enjoy the countryside throughout the year.

The reception was an opportunity to say thank you to the families and individuals who open their farms, fields and woodlands to the hunt and PFHCF events that benefit the public. Their support makes our rural way of life possible, and they can never be thanked enough for their hospitality and graciousness.  Every gate opened, every field crossed and every mile of countryside made available to riders reflects a relationship built on mutual respect and a shared appreciation for the land.

Landowners are an essential part of the fabric of Piedmont Fox Hounds and PFHCF. Their commitment extends well beyond allowing access to their properties. Through their stewardship, they help maintain open spaces, wildlife habitat, working farms and the rural landscape that has defined the Virginia Piedmont for generations. Their care for the land helps ensure that these places remain intact and that our traditions can continue.

The PFH Conservation Fund extends its deepest thanks to Shelby Bonnie for graciously hosting this year’s reception and, most importantly, to all of the landowners who make the our equestrian traditions possible. Their generosity, patience and commitment to preserving the countryside are invaluable.  We are deeply grateful for the role they play in protecting the land, traditions and sense of community that make the Piedmont such a special place.