Secure Land, Continue the Legacy!

Hey hey! My name is Caitlin Gooch. I am from a small town formerly known as Eagle Rock, NC. My family on both sides are from here. Land around our family farm has been sold and just recently another development was approved. Growth is great but what’s going to help those of us who have lived here our entire lives? I run a nonprofit called Saddle Up and Read. Kids read to my horses. I give away books. We are creating a safe space for youth. All of that is great but we have to stay ahead of what’s happening around us. I’m raising funds as a resource to do just that. Doing great things is so awesome and I plan on doing this for a long time. There are many parts to this but money is the biggest tool!

When I was a little girl, I believed our family land would always be here. I dreamed of riding horses here as an adult. How big our annual trail ride would be in the future. I knew I would always have a safe space. Decades later I would find that a development had a 10 year plan and purchased land from family. I was absolutely crushed. No one told me anything. And why would they? So many times adults leave the younger generation out of the important conversations.

Wednesday August 30th, 2023 I pulled into the path to drive to my home when I immediately stopped. My heart sank. It was a "land for sale" sign. I didn't know what land so I called two people to ask questions. Part of my family has decided to sell. I grew up here. My maternal grandfather and Big Ma's house is still on the land. We spent hot summers there. Sweating and only having the quick breeze of a tall fan rotating slowly. Watching my grandfather grow food for us to eat in his garden. The house where my Big Ma held me as a baby (she died when I was 2 months old). Where I used to see deer run around freely.

I will not sit here and watch that land be sold to anyone but me. I can't. Every cell in my body will continue to move and share until I am signing the papers. My family is doing what they feel they need to do and now I am doing what I know I have to do.

This is bigger than me! This is generational! This is legacy!

Everything can't be developed! There are not many places today's youth can go around here to learn about agriculture. We need farm land! We need Black family's to keep land in their family!

So that is why I am doing this.

And if for whatever reason I cannot buy it, land will still be purchased and put into a trust. The overall goal is to secure land.

I appreciate you for reading this and giving what you can. Below I will list other ways you can assist.

1. Attorney services

2. Resources

3. Book me as a guest speaker

4. Book me to attend school and community events

5. Tag celebrities and people you feel can help

6. Volunteer to write grants and/or send them my way

7. Attend my events and volunteer opportunities

Y'all, I am emotional about it but I have. big faith!

Thank you!