Black Leg Ranch Receives 2016 North Dakota Leopold Conservation Award
November 22, 2016
Sand County Foundation, in partnership with the North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition, North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts and the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, is proud to announce Black Leg Ranch as the recipient for the inaugural North Dakota Leopold Conservation Award®, which honors North Dakota landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources.
Jerry and Renae Doan own and manage the fourth and fifth generation Black Leg Ranch, a 17,000-acre farm and ranch in McKenzie. The farm contains 700 acres of cover crops consisting of a 20 species mix, and has also been no-till for over 15 years. The cover crop diversity has benefited wildlife, pollinators and has been a cost-effective source for winter grazing.
Some of the biggest goals for the Doans include improving the ecological health and sustainability on the ranch, and diversifying. Their infrastructure projects have allowed them to implement an intensive grazing system, mimicking what bison accomplished many years ago – grazing in large numbers while impacting the ground with their hooves, and allowing the grass a long period of rest before returning to graze.
The Doans have further diversified their ranch by adding a full service hunting/outfitting business, which has been featured on many national and regional hunting shows and received an award from the governor for having the best tourism package in the state. In the near future, the ranch will also feature a winery.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Leopold Conservation Award recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. It inspires other landowners through these examples and provides a visible forum where farmers, ranchers and other private landowners are recognized as conservation leaders. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”
The $10,000 award, and a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold, was presented to the Doans on November 21 at the North Dakota Association of Soil and Conservation Districts convention.
“Black Leg Ranch displays the very diversity across its landscape that is revealed across the state of North Dakota,” said Joshua Dukart, Executive Director of the North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition. “The Doan family's combination of enterprises, land uses, generations of people and commitment to family, land stewardship, and education makes them not only a great leader of regenerative agriculture, but also a deserving recipient of the inaugural Leopold Conservation Award in North Dakota.”
NDASCD Quote
“The Doan family has demonstrated a commitment to the environmental stewardship of the ranch that has been in their family since before statehood,” said Warren Zenker, President of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association. “We congratulate them on their positive contributions and for serving as a model for others to emulate to enhance the health and productivity of soil, grass and water resources."
The Leopold Conservation Award in North Dakota is made possible thanks to the generous contributions from Starion Financial, North Dakota Game & Fish Department, APEX Clean Energy, Audubon, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Cow Chip Ranch, Dakota Community Bank & Trust, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, KEM Electric Cooperative, The Nature Conservancy, North Dakota Department of Health, North Dakota Natural Resources Trust, North Dakota State University Foundation, Roughrider Electric Cooperative, Slope Electric Cooperative, The Wildlife Society North Dakota, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and World Wildlife Fund.
Visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.
ABOUT THE LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD
The Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. The award consists of $10,000 and a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold. Sand County Foundation presents Leopold Conservation Awards in California, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
ABOUT SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION
Sand County Foundation (www.sandcountyfoundation.org) is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to working with private landowners across North America to advance ethical and scientifically sound land management practices that benefit the environment.
ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA GRAZING LANDS COALITION
The NDGLC is a non-profit organization that believes through voluntary actions, respect for private property rights, and providing education on the values and multiple benefits of well managed grazing resources, the goals of promoting the health and sustainability of North Dakota's grazing lands are achievable. www.ndglc.com
ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA STOCKMEN’S ASSOCIATION
The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association is an 87-year-old non-profit trade organization representing North Dakota’s cattlemen and cattlewomen. www.ndstockmen.org
ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA ASSOCIATION OF SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS
The purpose of the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts is to further the widespread application of sound and practical soil and water conservation practices in North Dakota. Our goal is to provide quality membership services and nursery products to carry out the soil conservation program of the soil conservation districts of North Dakota. www.ndascd.org