Lazy VJ Farms Receives 2017 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award

Wichita, Kansas - Sand County Foundation, the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (KACD) and the Ranchland Trust of Kansas (RTK), are proud to announce Lazy VJ Farms as the recipient of the 2017 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award^®, which honors Kansas landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources.

Brickstead Dairy Named 2017 Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award Recipient

MADISON –  Sand County Foundation, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association are proud to announce Brickstead Dairy as the recipient of Wisconsin’s Leopold Conservation Award^®. The award honors Wisconsin landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources. The announcement was made during the November 16 meeting of the Wisconsin Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Board in Madison. 

Emmons Farm Receives 2017 Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award®

Sand County Foundation, in partnership with the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation, ITC Holdings Corp. and The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, is proud to announce Emmons Farm as the recipient for the inaugural Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award^®, which honors Oklahoma landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources

Recipient Named for 2017 North Dakota Leopold Conservation Award®

Bismarck, North Dakota - 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 Ken and Bonnie Miller as the recipients for the North Dakota Leopold Conservation Award^®, which honors North Dakota landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources.

Tallow Creek Farm Named Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award® Recipient

Sand County Foundation, the Kentucky Agricultural Council (KAC) and the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts (KACD) are proud to announce Tallow Creek Farm as the 2017 Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award recipient. The award honors landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources.

Dixon Water Foundation Receives 2017 Texas Leopold Conservation Award®

Founded in 1994 by the late Roger Dixon, the Dixon Water Foundation promotes healthy watersheds and sequestration of carbon through regenerative land management to ensure that present and future generations of Texans have the water resources they need. In 2005, the foundation acquired the Bear Creek Ranch in Parker County west of Fort Worth. In 2008, they went west to try their approach in drier soils, acquiring the Mimms Ranch near Marfa. Today the foundation operates six ranches totaling 21,960 acres. Each one utilizes a high intensity/low duration holistic grazing system which mimics the natural effect of large herds of bison which used to migrate through Texas.

2017 South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award® Recipient Announced

Sand County Foundation, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association and the South Dakota Grassland Coalition congratulate Blue Bell Ranch of Clear Lake as the recipient of the 2017 Leopold Conservation Award. The award honors South Dakota landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources.

Owned and managed by Herb and Beverly Hamann, along with their son Breck Hamann and daughter Arla Poindexter, Blue Bell Ranch includes more than 5,000 acres of native grasslands and wetlands that serve as an “ecological anchor” on the southern end of the Prairie Coteau Hills in eastern South Dakota.

K&W Farms Named Recipient of 2017 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award

Governor Pete Ricketts of Nebraska joined Sand County Foundation, the Nebraska Cattlemen, Cargill, and the Nebraska Environmental Trust to announce K & W Farms as the recipient of the 2017 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award. The annual award honors Nebraska landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources.

Kurt and Wayne Kaup own and manage K & W Farms in Stuart, Neb., where they raise hogs and crops. With a commitment toward improving natural resources on the land, The Kaups are leaders in implementing no-till farming strategies combined with the use of cover crops to improve the soil, reduce erosion and recycle nutrients.

Garrett Ranch Receives 2017 Wyoming Leopold Conservation Award

Cheyenne, Wyo. – The Garrett Ranch has been named the 2017 recipient of the Wyoming Leopold Conservation Award^®, presented in partnership by Sand County Foundation and the Wyoming Stock Growers Association through their Environmental Stewardship Award Program.

Former DuPont Pioneer Sustainable Agriculture Leader Joins Sand County Foundation

Nancy DeLong, who served as DuPont Pioneer’s Global Director of Sustainable Agriculture Systems, has been named Senior Director of Conservation Programs for Sand County Foundation.