Tom Cotter Receives Minnesota Leopold Conservation Award

Tom Cotter of Austin is the recipient of the 2025 Minnesota 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. 

Cotter, who owns and operates Cotter Farms, was presented with the $10,000 award at the Premier Soil Health Event in Mankato.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In Minnesota, the $10,000 award is presented with state partners Minnesota Soil Health Coalition and Soil Regen.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the 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. 

Earlier this year, Minnesota landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders from Minnesota. 

ABOUT TOM COTTER 

Tom Cotter believes that when you do good things, other good things happen. He’s seen it firsthand.

Thanks to a soil health discovery he and his father made in the late 1990s, his farm has become a testament to transformation. The pivotal moment happened shortly after his father, Mike, bought a tile plow. Four feet beneath the ground, areas that had been tilled for generations showed signs of poor soil quality, an unpleasant odor and a lack of earthworms. 

For the next decade, the Cotters had successes and failures when growing cereal rye as a cover crop. While he now mentors other farmers looking to control erosion and increase soil biodiversity by planting cover crops, Tom says there was little guidance on the practice back then. 

By 2015, Tom embraced reduced tillage and began finding like-minded farmers committed to a comprehensive approach to soil health and sustainable farming. The following year, Cotter Farms became the first in Mower County to be certified as a Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Farm for implementing conservation practices that far exceed regulatory requirements. 

Tom’s transition to no-till was a considerable risk in Minnesota’s colder, wetter soils, requiring equipment modifications and adjustment of planting dates. He says combining cover crops with no-till and livestock grazing was the game changer for his farm. 

He’s become a vocal advocate for conservation practices that can enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, increase carbon sequestration, boost farm resiliency, ensure financial viability, and revitalize rural communities. 

Successfully controlling weeds with cover crops convinced Tom to transition about 40 percent of his acreage to organic production. Regenerative practices are followed on the rest of the farm where a rotation of corn, soybeans, sweet corn, sunflowers, peas, oats, and alfalfa are grown. 

Tom grows diverse cover crop mixes not typically used in Minnesota. Leveraging this expertise, he produces and sells cover crop seed mixes, creating an additional revenue stream from his conservation knowledge. He has invested in specialized equipment to interseed cover crops into standing cash crops to extend the growing season for cover crops. He’s also a pioneer in using roller-crimpers to terminate cover crops without herbicides. 

Tom transitioned from raising beef cattle in a feed lot to grazing cow-calf pairs across all 850 acres of his farm. He says this type of farming tugs at his heart and stimulates his mind. 

Despite a complex regulatory landscape, Tom further diversified his farm to become an early adopter of hemp cultivation in Minnesota. Investment in on-farm processing equipment to produce CBD oil captures more of the value chain. He also participated in a multi-year demonstration of how soil sensors providing data on soil temperature and water infiltration rates can inform farmers’ day-to-day decision making. 

Despite all his innovations, some say what truly sets Tom apart is his commitment to sharing. He has hosted thousands of visitors on his farm -- farmers, students, researchers, agency staff, and food company executives -- so they can see what it looks like when land and livelihood are in harmony. 

“Tom doesn’t just practice conservation, he builds community around it,” said Dr. Liz Haney, who nominated Tom for the Leopold Conservation Award. “He lifts up others with his knowledge, humor, and lived example. His work embodies Aldo Leopold’s land ethic and inspires the kind of stewardship this award was meant to honor.”

Further proof that when you do good things, good things happen. 

ACCOLADES

“Tom truly works to make his community, the farming community and all of society better with his farming practices, community outreach, and opening his farm to so many people. Tom’s farm is a haven of biodiversity and a great example of building soil health, protecting water quality, and enhancing wildlife habitat across Minnesota,” said Mark Gutierrez, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition Executive Director. 

“Soil Regen is deeply honored to recognize Tom Cotter as this year’s Minnesota Leopold Conservation Award recipient. Tom’s unwavering commitment to soil health, conservation, and community leadership reflects the very heart of regenerative agriculture. His stewardship inspires all of us working to build healthier land, stronger farms, and a future rooted in resilience,” said Liz Haney and Russell Hedrick of Soil Regen. 

“Mr. Cotter embodies all that we look for when it comes to conservation agriculture. His commitment to constant progress and improvement of land stewardship sets the example for others. Tom is always looking for innovative ways to make his operation economically sustainable and regenerative while mentoring others who want to elevate their conservation work also. His is a leader in Minnesota’s conservation ag movement and beyond,” said Troy Daniell, State Conservationist for Minnesota NRCS. 

“Cotter Farms showcases the tangible impact and promise of regenerative agriculture, and Tom so generously shares his expertise. Tom’s commitment to educating others makes him a true champion of land conservation,” said Jay Watson, Senior Director, Sustainability, General Mills. “I congratulate Tom on this well-deserved recognition.”

Among the outstanding Minnesota landowners nominated for the award were finalists: Hannah Bernhardt of Finlayson in Pine County, Didrikson Farms of Badger in Roseau County, and Meadowbrook Dairy of Sartell in Stearns County. 

The Minnesota Leopold Conservation Award is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition, Soil Regen, General Mills, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of Minnesota, Sand County Foundation, Audubon Upper Mississippi River, Compeer Financial, Minnesota Corn, Minnesota Farm Bureau, Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation, Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council, Renovo Seed, and The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota.