Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Nominees
November 18, 2024
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award®.
The $10,000 award honors ranchers, farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.
Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In Nebraska, the $10,000 award is presented with Cargill, Nebraska Cattlemen, and the Nebraska Environmental Trust.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others to consider conservation opportunities on their land. 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.
Award nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. The nomination form can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.
The nomination deadline is March 1, 2025. Nominations must be emailed to NebraskaLCA@sandcountyfoundation.org.
“Conservation is more than a practice, it is a way of life and reflects one’s strong belief in leaving the land better than they found it for generations to come,” said Laura Field, Nebraska Cattlemen Executive Vice President. “Nebraska Cattlemen is proud to sponsor the Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award as we recognize the individuals who go above and beyond in their conservation efforts and carry out the long tradition of environmental stewardship.”
“These award recipients are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO. “Their dedication to conservation is both an inspiration to their peers as well as a reminder to all how important thoughtful agriculture is to clean water, healthy soil, and wildlife habitat.”
“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the recipients of this award,” 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.”
The first Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award was presented in 2006. The 2024 recipient of the award was Worth Ranch of Springview. To view profiles of all past recipients visit www.sandcountyfoundation.org/Nebraska.
The Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Cargill, Nebraska Environmental Trust, Nebraska Cattlemen, Sand County Foundation, Farm Credit Services of America, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Audubon Great Plains, Green Cover Seed, Lyle Sittler Memorial Fund, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Land Trust, Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, Sandhills Task Force, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and World Wildlife Fund-Northern Great Plains.
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SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION inspires and empowers private landowners to ethically manage natural resources so future generations have clean and abundant water, healthy soil to support agriculture and forestry, plentiful habitat for wildlife and opportunities for outdoor recreation. www.sandcountyfoundation.org