By Scout Nelson
The 2025 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award has been presented to a family from Timken for their remarkable dedication to land stewardship and resource protection. The award, given in honor of Aldo Leopold, celebrates landowners who show exceptional commitment to improving soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working agricultural land.
In Kansas, the $10,000 award is supported by organizations including the Sand County Foundation, American Farmland Trust, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Ranchland Trust of Kansas (RTK) and Kansas Farm Bureau.
The recognized family manages a large operation consisting of native rangeland and dryland cropland across three counties. One of the most impactful parts of their conservation work is the restoration of more than 500 acres of cropland into native perennial grasses and forbs. This transition, achieved without cost-share assistance, helps build strong root systems, supports better water retention, and reduces the effects of drought.
Their land layout also supports strategic grazing. The borders of fields are planted with diverse perennial vegetation and fenced to create livestock travel lanes. These areas attract pollinators and pheasants, adding significant wildlife value to the operation. Additionally, around 30,000 feet of water lines were installed to supply stock tanks, strengthening livestock and land management.
Their remaining crop production focuses on milo, triticale and rye, crops that can also serve as forage for both livestock and wildlife. The family credits rotational grazing on cover crops and perennial pastures as the key to restoring soil health.
Their grasslands have stayed green even in recent drought, showing the long-term benefits of regenerative practices. Increased plant diversity has brought more insects and wildlife, which they view as a strong sign of ecological improvement.
“RTK is delighted to announce that Kevin and Amanda Wiltse of Timken are the Kansas Leopold Conservation Award recipients,” said Barth Crouch, RTK board chairman. “They have worked hard to fulfill their commitment to conservation for many years. Kevin has been very strong in sharing his efforts and projects with other ranchers and farming families across the state.”
Support for the award comes from multiple conservation organizations, including Kansas Ducks Unlimited, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Kansas Forest Service, Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, NRCS and Green Cover Seed.
Photo Credit: sand-county-foundation
Categories: Kansas, Crops, Hay & Forage, Education, Livestock, Weather