Iowa Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Applicants
January 21, 2026
Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Iowa 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.
Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In Iowa, the $10,000 award is presented with Conservation Districts of Iowa and Practical Farmers of Iowa.
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 apply themselves. The application form can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.
The application deadline is July 1, 2026. Applications must be emailed to IowaLCA@sandcountyfoundation.org.
Applications are reviewed by an independent panel of Iowa agricultural and conservation leaders. Last year’s award recipients were Landon and Anne Plagge of Latimer. To view profiles of all past recipients, click here.
“This award recognizes those who are leading by example and putting conservation into practice on their land,” said Sally Worley, Practical Farmers of Iowa Executive Director. “PFI is proud to support this award and the farmers who are strengthening Iowa’s land, water and communities through their stewardship.”
“It’s critically important to highlight the hard work and dedication of farmers and landowners who implement practices to preserve our precious soil and water resources. Conservation Districts of Iowa continues its support of this award and the conservationists who do the hard work of protecting the soil and water in Iowa,” said Dien Judge, Conservation Districts of Iowa Executive Director.
“Leopold Conservation 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.”
The Iowa Leopold Conservation Award is made possible through the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Conservation Districts of Iowa, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Sand County Foundation, Soil Regen, Farm Credit Services of America, Nancy and Marc DeLong, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, Iowa Corn, Iowa Farmers Union, Leopold Landscape Alliance, Loran and Brenda Steinlage of FLOLO Farms, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
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SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION inspires and empowers farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners to ethically care for the land to sustain water resources, build healthy soil, and enhance wildlife habitat. www.sandcountyfoundation.org