Four Farms are Finalists for Mississippi Leopold Conservation Award

Four finalists have been selected for the inaugural Mississippi 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 Mississippi the $10,000 award is presented with the Mississippi Farm Bureau.

The finalists are:

Jim Currie of Picayune in Hancock County. At Woodland Cottage Farms, Jim Currie has restored and managed native grasslands and longleaf pine trees for long-term economic and ecological sustainability. He utilizes prescribed fire and other conservation practices to enhance biodiversity, control invasive species, prevent erosion, and improve his forest’s timber stand and understory. Silviculture is practiced by rotationally grazing beef cattle amid his forests.

Bill and Nancy Howard of Canton in Madison County. At Sedgewood Plantation the Howards have converted highly-erodible cotton fields to pasture to rotationally graze beef cattle. A mix of cover crops are planted on 100 acres for grazing during the winter, and to be cut as hay each spring. Heavy use pads were installed around water and feed troughs to prevent soil erosion. Canal banks and gullies have been stabilized to improve water quality.

Terry K. Maxwell of Inverness in Sunflower County. At Hopeso Farms, Terry K Maxwell grows corn and soybeans, and manages 225 acres of hardwood timber. He was an early adopter of using soil moisture meters to increase irrigation efficiency. He installed a tailwater recovery system designed to collect, store, and convey runoff for reuse as irrigation. Cover crops are grown to suppress weeds, improve soil health, and enhance water infiltration and biodiversity.

Michael Wagner of Sumner in Tallahatchie County. At Two Brooks Farm, Michael Wagner grows rice and soybeans, and manages hundreds of acres of woodlands, lakes, and river frontage. His environmentally sensitive approach to growing rice includes a continuous production system and wetland habitat that provides many ecological benefits, including providing habitat for migratory birds, reptiles, amphibians, and wildlife species.

Mississippi landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. An independent panel of Mississippi agricultural and conservation leaders reviewed the applications. The award recipient will be recognized at the Mississippi Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting this December.

The Leopold Conservation Award in Mississippi is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Mississippi Farm Bureau, Sand County Foundation, Farm Families of Mississippi, Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts, Mississippi Soil & Water Conservation Commission, and The Nature Conservancy in Mississippi.

“Mississippi farmers and ranchers have always been great stewards of this state’s natural resources,” said Mike McCormick, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President. “This land and water are how our membership makes their living and provides the food, clothing, and shelter for Mississippi and beyond. We are proud to stand with these organizations to recognize farmers in our state who are going above and beyond to protect the resources for the next generation.”

“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 finalists from Mississippi,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that exemplary conservation involves the land itself, the practices employed on the land, and the people who steward it. This award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

For more information, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.