Aldo Leopold and Tom Coleman, father of our founder Reed Coleman and a Madison, Wisconsin business owner, become friends and buy adjacent land along the Wisconsin River. Leopold goes on to become America's foremost conservation thinker and the author of A Sand County Almanac. He dies in 1948, one week after learning his manuscript for A Sand County Almanac had been accepted for publication.

Sand County Foundation is chartered.

Sand County Foundation founder Reed Coleman leads an effort among neighboring landowners to protect the land around Aldo Leopold's famous Shack property. Their agreement creates the Leopold Memorial Reserve.  

Geologist Charles Bradley, married to Aldo Leopold's daughter Nina, brings a scientific perspective to Sand County Foundation Board of Directors. Later, Sand County Foundation funds his study of lands at the Leopold Memorial Reserve.

First professional staff member, Dr. Brent Haglund, joins Sand County Foundation as President. 

The first Independent Review Team assessment of Sand County Foundation's performance is conducted. (These reviews by a team of independent experts continue today.)

Quality Hunting Ecology program begins at the Leopold Memorial Reserve.  

Sand County Foundation's Bradley Fund for the Environment, supported by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, begins a 15-year investment in creative environmental programs. 

Sand County Foundation's Community Based Conservation Network project begins in Africa. 

Leopold Stewardship Fund enables scores of private landowners to restore imperiled wildlife species habitat.

113 miles of Wisconsin's Baraboo River run free for the first time in 150 years thanks to a collaborative dam removal project led by Sand County Foundation that set the standard for similar river restorations.  

Leopold Conservation Award program begins in Colorado.

National agricultural conservation seminars begin. 

Mississippi River basin summits spur farm nutrient management movement.

Cooperative Sagebrush Initiative is spearheaded by Sand County Foundation. 

Lynne Sherrod becomes Sand County Foundation Chairman. Reed Coleman becomes Chairman Emeritus following 49 years at the helm.

Kevin McAleese is named President & CEO 

Our founder Reed Coleman dies in August of 2020.  

Longtime CEO Brent Haglund retires after more than three decades of leadership. Brent's family and other donors create the Haglund Ecology Fund to recognize and celebrate Brent's contributions to science in conservation.  

Ten Years of Growth

From 2013 through 2023, Sand County Foundation's programs grow nationally in depth and focus. Agricultural conservation research and demonstration becomes a greater part of the body of work. The Leopold Conservation Award program expands coast-to-coast. A conservation mentorship program is developed, along with an environmental education effort. 

Nebraska rancher and Leopold Conservation Award recipient Homer Buell becomes the third chairman of the board in Sand County Foundation's nearly 60 year history.