Carolinas Leopold Conservation Award Finalists Selected

Four finalists have been selected for the 2026 Carolinas 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 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 the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 28 states. In the Carolinas, the $10,000 award is presented with North Carolina Soil Health Coalition, and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service of North Carolina and South Carolina. 

The finalists are:

• Joseph Fields Farm of Johns Island, South Carolina: Joseph Fields Sr. is a strong advocate for conservation-based agriculture. He utilizes nutrient and pest management, mulching and crop rotations to prevent erosion and improve soil health while organically growing eggplants, peppers, kale, blackberries, strawberries, grapes, and Carolina Gold rice in Charleston County. Native wildflower strips within cropland provide food and habitat for wildlife and pollinators. By switching from a conventional sprinkler to a drip irrigation system, he has conserved water usage and improved his farm’s resilience.
• Bruce Price and Sons Farm of Little Rock, South Carolina: Bruce “Sonny” Price Jr. and his family grow corn, cotton, wheat, and soybeans. In 2015, they committed to no-till farming and growing cover crops throughout the year. They also eliminated fallow periods, synthetic fertilizers, and lime applications. With diverse crop rotations and organic amendments, these changes led to an increase in soil organic matter, while nutrient levels and crop yields held steady or improved. The Prices host field days focused on soil health, cover crops, and nutrient management.
• Running T Farms of Cleveland, North Carolina: Josh and Brandi Teague own and lease pasture and forestland in Iredell County. To rotationally graze beef cattle year-round, they built 63,000 feet of fencing and 21,000 feet of water line. By giving pastures long rest periods, they are encouraging biodiversity, building soil organic matter, and improving soil’s ability to infiltrate and hold water. Portions of the farm are set aside for wildlife and pollinator habitat. Excluding livestock from their streams has led to an increase in beavers and river otters.  
• Zeb Winslow of Scotland Neck, North Carolina: Zeb Winslow utilizes strip and no-till practices while growing corn, soybeans, small grains, and cotton on the Lower Coastal Plain. Probes that measure the infiltration rate and moisture storage capacity of soils are used to collect data regarding the impacts of fertility management on crop yields. Zeb’s innovative use of tile drainage has made his farm a hub for research. He serves on the Fishing Creek Soil and Water Conservation District Board.

The award recipient, who will be revealed in December, receives $10,000. Earlier this year, owners of farmland and forests in the Carolinas were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. Applications were evaluated by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders from the Carolinas. Last year’s award recipient was Grayhouse Farms of Stony Point, North Carolina.

Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award is made possible in the Carolinas through the generous support of American Farmland Trust, North Carolina Soil Health Coalition, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service of North Carolina and South Carolina.

“The North Carolina Soil Health Coalition is proud to partner with Sand County Foundation to present the Carolinas Leopold Conservation Award at our Carolian Soil Health Conference. We appreciate the opportunity to celebrate and recognize the farmers who generously lead and share hard-earned lessons because they are excited by the progress they are making on their farms and can see the positive impacts of restoring healthy soil, both now and for future generations,” said Ben Cauthen, North Carolina Soil Health Coalition Chair. 

“These award finalists 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.”