PCC Farmland Trust has hired Rebecca Sadinsky as its new executive director.

Kathryn Gardow, the current executive director, will continue on part time in the newly created position of conservation director position, according to a news release from the trust.

The nonprofit organization's work focuses on Washington state, where it says 22,000 acres of farmland are lost every year to development.

Sadinsky will coordinate efforts to make sure as much land as possible remains farmland, especially as current farmers retire. The trust's mission is to preserve local organic farmland and act on national issues when appropriate.

Since its inception, the trust has preserved four farms totaling 550 acres: the 97-acre Delta Farm in Sequim farmed by Nash's Organic Produce; the 174-acre Bennington Place Farm in Walla Walla farmed by Thundering Hooves and its grass-fed meat operation; 179-acre Ames Creek Farm in Carnation farmed by Full Circle Farm and Growing Things Farm; and the 100-acre Orting Valley Farms in Orting farmed by Tahoma Farms, Little Eorthe Farm and Crying Rock Farms.

--Steve Brown