Are you a Kansas farmer, rancher or forestland owner who improves soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on your working land? Apply for the 2023 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award.
Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 25 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In Kansas, the $10,000 award is presented with Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, and the Ranchland Trust of Kansas.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes those who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. In his influential 1949 book, "A Sand County Almanac," Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.
Nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. Applications are reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders.
The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA. The application deadline date is June 1. Applications should be emailed to award@sandcountyfoundation.org.
"The Leopold Conservation Award Program provides a valuable opportunity to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Kansas agricultural landowners who are committed to strong conservation practices and effective stewardship," said Dan Meyerhoff, executive director of the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts.
"RTK is a proud supporter of the Leopold Conservation Award in Kansas. It is our honor and privilege to help recognize Kansas ranchers and farmers who go above and beyond the standard in stewardship of the natural resources they manage daily," said Barth Crouch, Ranchland Trust of Kansas board chairman.
"Conserving our state's rich and diverse natural resources is ingrained deeply in the culture of our multi-generational farms and ranches," said Kansas Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam. "The Leopold Conservation Award serves an important role of reminding the general public of how private land managers conserve and enhance these resources for future generations."
"As a national sponsor for Sand County Foundation's Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of farmers, ranchers and forestland owners," said John Piotti, AFT president and CEO. "At AFT we believe that conservation in agriculture requires a focus on the land, the practices and the people and this award recognizes the integral role of all three."
"Recipients of this award are examples of how Aldo Leopold's land ethic is alive and well today. Their dedication to conservation shows how individuals can improve the health of the land while producing food and fiber," said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation president and CEO.
The 2022 award will be presented in November at the KACD Annual Convention.
The 2022 recipient of the award was Michael Thompson of Almena. The first Kansas Leopold Conservation Award was presented in 2015 to the Sproul Ranch of Sedan.
The Leopold Conservation Award Program in Kansas is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Ranchland Trust of Kansas, Sand County Foundation, Farm Credit Associations of Kansas, ITC Great Plains, Evergy, Kansas Department of Agriculture's Division of Conservation, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Kansas Forest Service, McDonald's, The Nature Conservancy in Kansas, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Green Cover Seed, and a Kansas Leopold Conservation Award recipient.
For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.
Categories: Kansas, Sustainable Agriculture