More than 4,000 acres of Blue Ridge Parkway land are leased to neighboring farmers for pasture and for crops such as cabbage, corn, oats, and hay. The agricultural lease program began in the 1930s during the Parkway's early planning stages, with the intent of preserving traditional Appalachian farm scenes adjacent to the Parkway motor road. Although modern technology has altered farming methods, the rural scene remains a key aspect of the Parkway experience.