Three Finalists Selected for New Mexico Leopold Conservation Award

Three finalists have been selected for the 2025 New Mexico Leopold Conservation Award^®.

The award honors farmers, ranchers, 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 advocated 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 New Mexico, the award is presented with New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts, New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau, and Quivira Coalition.

The finalists are:

Hibner Ranch of Cebolla in Rio Arriba County: Before retiring as a soil scientist with a natural resources agency, Charles Hibner applied a variety of conservation practices at the 250-head cattle ranch he owns with his wife Verna. Range renovations of bush hogging, discing, and reseeding have increased forage availability. These practices have also bolstered the soil’s organic matter, and its ability to infiltrate water and sequester carbon.

Philmont Scout Ranch and Training Center of Cimarron in Colfax County: With its 140,000 acres of mountains, mesas and plains, this facility has changed the lives of more than a million youth since 1938. In the wake of the 2018 Ute Park Fire, the Philmont Scout Ranch undertook aggressive forest management by creating fuel breaks. A 23,000 gallon capacity catchment provides water for wildlife and livestock, and hundreds of acres have been monitored and treated for noxious weeds.

Viramontes Farms of Deming in Luna County: Cole and Raymond Viramontes grow onions, chile, cotton, forage, and pecans at their diversified row crop farm. They grow cover crops to add organic matter to the soil, while reducing erosion and improving water infiltration and moisture retention. Drip irrigation technology used at the farm helps conserve water. The use of minimum tillage prepares fields for planting crops without completely disrupting or destroying microbes and funji within the soil.

New Mexico landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. An independent panel of New Mexico agricultural and conservation leaders reviewed the applications.

The award recipient, who receives $10,000, will be recognized this fall. The 2024 award recipient was Lanford Livestock of Sierra County.

The New Mexico Leopold Conservation Award is made possible through the generous support of American Farmland Trust, New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts, New Mexico Farm & Livestock Bureau, Quivira Coalition, Sand County Foundation, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services of New Mexico, Lanford Livestock, and American AgCredit.

“The New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts through the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts through our local Soil and Water Conservation Districts is proud to honor these hard-working farmers and ranchers whose stewardship of New Mexico’s natural resources is second to none,” said Josh Smith, NMACD President.

“We at New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau want to congratulate the New Mexico Leopold Conservation Award finalists,” said Larry Reagan, New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau President. “These finalists exemplify the land, water, and wildlife stewardship that farmers and ranchers put into practice on working lands across our great state.”

“It is always a joy to see how applicants are stewarding New Mexico’s land, ecosystems, and communities that inevitably help make our state more vibrant and resilient. Quivira and New Mexico Coalition to Enhance Working Lands are proud to support this award and the farmers and ranchers who live and embody Aldo Leopold’s land ethic,” said Leah Ricci, interim executive director of Quivira Coalition.

“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 award recipients,” 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.”