Colorado Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Applicants

Applications are now being accepted for the 2027 Colorado 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 Colorado, the award is presented with the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service of Colorado.

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 advocated for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage. 

Award applications may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.   

The application deadline date is February 15, 2027. Applications must be emailed to ColoradoLCA@sandcountyfoundation.org. 

"The Leopold Conservation Award not only celebrates the heritage of stewardship and conservation on Colorado’s working landscapes, but also highlights the important contributions agriculture makes to our natural resources, rural and urban communities, and economy," said Mark LeValley, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association President and past Leopold Conservation Award recipient.

"Each year we are honored to celebrate ranching families that exemplify the stewardship, dedication, and conservation ethic that help sustain Colorado’s agricultural heritage," said Erik L. Glenn, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust Chief Executive Officer. "Their commitment reflects the principles of Aldo Leopold’s land ethic, recognizing that caring for the land is both a responsibility and a legacy. We are proud to honor their achievements and encourage other landowners and ranching families across the state to apply and share their own conservation stories."

"Farmers and ranchers know that caring for the land is an investment in both their livelihoods and the next generation. The Leopold Conservation Award recognizes the hard work and ingenuity that commitment takes. We encourage Colorado producers to apply and share the conservation practices that are making a difference on their land," said Chad Franke, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union President. 

"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 Colorado Leopold Conservation Award recipient was selected in 2003. Eagle Rock Ranch of Jefferson received the award in 2026. 

Sand County Foundation’s Colorado Leopold Conservation Award is made possible thanks to the generous partnership and support of American Farmland Trust, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service of Colorado, American AgCredit, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, CKP Insurance, CoBank, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Farm Credit of Southern Colorado, Premier Farm Credit, The Stanko Ranch, The Nature Conservancy, and USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife.