Four Finalists Selected for Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award

Four finalists have been selected for the 2024 Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award^®.

The award honors farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.

Named in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, this award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold called for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In Wisconsin the $10,000 award is presented with state partners: Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.

The finalists are:

• Bartling’s Manitowish Cranberry Co. of Manitowish Waters in Vilas County: Brothers David and Steven have improved cranberry yields with nutrient management for better plant and soil health. They planted five acres of native pollinator gardens for the honeybees needed to increase crop pollination. Efficient water management has reduced input costs and improved water quality. The cranberry leaves that come off the plant when cranberries are harvested is later sold to local gardeners and landscapers.

• Full Circle Farm of Seymour in Shawano County: Full Circle Farm builds soil organic matter while sequestering carbon on its pastures. Rick Adamski, Valerie Dantoin and their son Andrew rotationally graze beef cattle, raise pastured hogs and laying hens, and grow 10 acres of vegetables. Their farm’s woodlands, wetlands, natural pond, riparian buffers, and fence lines provide habitat and migration corridors for wildlife, birds, and beneficial pollinators.

• Glacial Lake Cranberries of Wisconsin Rapids in Wood County: In addition to cranberry bogs, the forests and wetlands on Mary Brazeau Brown’s 6,100 acre property provide habitat for diverse wildlife, flora and fauna. It hosts ideal breeding habitat for birds and provides a stopover for migrating species. A certified forester has managed its 2,600 acres of woods for decades. To maintain its wetlands, woody vegetation is kept in check with periodical controlled burns.

• Joe Hovel of Conover in Vilas County: Joe Hovel protects unique and fragile habitats in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. A woodland owner since in the 1970s, he began prioritizing the protection of ecologically important land in the 80s. He now manages 3,300 acres in several counties, including Porcupine Tree Farm and the Upper Wisconsin River Legacy Forest. Hovel owns County Line Wood Products and is the president and founder of the Partners in Forestry Landowners Cooperative.

Wisconsin landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. An independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders reviewed the applications. This year’s recipient will be revealed at the Wisconsin Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection meeting in November.

The Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award is made possible thanks to the generous contributions from American Farmland Trust, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Sand County Foundation, Culver’s, Compeer Financial, McDonald’s, The Nature Conservancy, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board, Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association, and Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association.

The first Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award was presented to woodland conservationist Gerry Mich of Appleton in 2006. The 2023 recipient was Noll’s Dairy Farm of Alma in Buffalo County.

“Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is proud to support and recognize the conservation efforts of the finalists. Strong farms and support for Wisconsin’s agriculture is crucial for Wisconsin’s economy. We’re proud to support organizations that highlight and celebrate farmers for the conservation efforts they have been implementing over generations,” said Chad Vincent, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin CEO.

“These finalists represent the diversity of agriculture in Wisconsin. Regardless of size or commodity, Wisconsin farmers share the goal of being safe and sustainable while keeping their farms productive. We applaud these farmers for their efforts,” said Brad Olson, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President.

“These award finalists 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.

“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the Wisconsin finalists,” 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.”

For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.