The former CEO of Westar Energy and his wife have donated a 65-acre farmstead to The Land Institute of Salina.

Land Institute founder Wes Jackson on Monday announced that Jim and Cindy Haines will donate the farm northwest of Lawrence. The land is appraised at $1.2 million. The property includes a farm home built in the 1880s, listed on the Register of Historic Kansas Places as the Gorrill Farmstead.

Jackson says the land will provide a closer link with University of Kansas scientists to continue the Institute’s efforts to research a sustainable agriculture system that reduces environmental damage.

Earlier this year, the Land Institute started a cooperative research effort with Kansas, Kansas State University and the Konza Prairie.

Haines retired as Wester CEO in 2007.