Kansas Leopold Conservation Award Finalists Selected

Three finalists have been selected for the 2026 Kansas 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 Kansas the $10,000 award is presented with Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Kansas Farm Bureau, and Ranchland Trust of Kansas. 

The finalists are:

DL Cattle Company of Fredonia. Daryl and Jody Donohue of DL Cattle Company carry forward a deep family history in Wilson County, where the Donohue family has been building, improving, and caring for their land since the late 1800s. That long relationship with the land is reflected in their practical stewardship, from prescribed fire and cedar removal to pond protection, no-till farming, cover crop grazing, cross fencing, and persistent control of invasive species. Daryl's impact reaches well beyond the ranch through decades of community leadership with the Wilson County Conservation District, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, local youth education, rural fire response, and mentoring others on conservation practices.

Janus Farms of Cherryvale. Dr. Phil Eastep of Janus Farms and Choteau Creek Winery has built a diverse, conservation-focused cow-calf operation that integrates timber and wildlife management, pasture and prairie restoration, hay production, and value-added products from the farm’s forests and vineyard. Eastep combines conservation with business sustainability to make his farm more resilient to changes in the environment and economy. He’s built diverse revenue streams from forestry, wine production, solar energy, and novel products such as honey, syrup, and mushrooms. He’s opened his land as a living classroom, hosting forestry field days, research projects, university classes, bird surveys, and landowner learning opportunities.

Glenn and Barbara Walker of Brookville. Glenn and Barbara Walker of Walker Ranch restore and maintain a resilient native grassland system with healthy soils, functioning water cycles, and diverse wildlife habitat while sustaining livestock production as a compatible use of that ecosystem. Their cow-calf operation operates on an adaptive grazing strategy where lower stocking density may lead to reductions in short-term income but protects the long-term health of grasses. They have permanently protected over 4,000 acres of their ranch through a conservation easement. Through their leadership on conservation boards, hands-on training for neighboring landowners, the Walkers have helped conservation practices extend well beyond their own ranch.

Kansas landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. An independent panel of Kansas agricultural and conservation leaders evaluated the applications. The award recipient will be recognized at the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts’ 82nd Annual Convention in Wichita in November.

The first Kansas Leopold Conservation Award recipient was selected in 2015. Wiltse Family Farms of Timken received the award in 2025. 

“Kansas Association of Conservation Districts is excited to recognize these outstanding landowners who are committed to conservation on their land,” said Dan Meyerhoff, KACD Executive Director. “We are proud to partner with Sand County Foundation and the Ranchland Trust of Kansas to give these families the recognition they deserve." 

“On behalf of Kansas Farm Bureau, I congratulate this year’s finalists for their commitment to caring for the land and strengthening Kansas agriculture,” said Glenn Brunkow, Kansas Farm Bureau President. “You are all an inspiration, showing that conservation is a journey of continual improvement that benefits both today’s farms and future generations.”

“We celebrate the stewardship demonstrated by Kansas ranchers and farmers,” said Dawn Hovey, Ranchland Trust of Kansas Executive Director. “These finalists exemplify what it means to honor the land while securing its future through dedication, smart management, and a willingness to share their knowledge with others.”

“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.”

Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award in Kansas is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Ranchland Trust of Kansas, Kansas Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Associations of Kansas, ITC Great Plains, Kansas Department of Agriculture (Division of Conservation), Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Kansas Ducks Unlimited, Kansas Forest Service, Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, The Nature Conservancy, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of Kansas, and Green Cover Seed.

For more information, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.