Maryland Leopold Conservation Award Finalists Selected

Three finalists have been selected for the 2026 Maryland 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 Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In Maryland, the $10,000 award is presented with state partners: Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, Maryland Farm Bureau Inc., and The Campbell Foundation.

The finalists are:

Clear Ridge Farms & Clear Ridge Nursery of Union Bridge in Carroll County: Joe Barley bought a row-crop farm in the 1990s, but he envisioned something different. Today, it’s a thriving nursery where he and his daughter Jessica Todd grow native trees and shrubs for restoration. They specialize in container grown material for the Mid-Atlantic region. Their farm includes forested corridors and conservation buffers. The family has also played an important role in Maryland’s 5 Million Trees Project, including growing and distribution of trees. 

Cold Springs Farms of New Windsor in Carroll County: Matthew and Debra Hoff’s dairy farm utilizes no-till practices to reduce sediment runoff. They grow cover crops, small grains, legumes, and grasses between corn and soybean rows to enhance soil health. A dragline manure system reduces carbon emissions and soil compaction from tractors and liquid tankers driving over fields. The Hoffs participate in the Dairy Regenerative Farming Program, which analyzes the farm’s environmental impact and identifies cost-effective opportunities for improvement. 

Lippy Brothers Farms of Hampstead in Carroll and Baltimore counties: The Lippy family’s grain, vegetable and poultry farm has expanded over the decades by investing in the landscape, rather than compromising it. To protect water quality, marginal cropland has been converted into permanent vegetative buffers that protect streams from sediment and nutrient runoff while expanding wildlife habitat. More than 2,000 acres have been enrolled in farmland preservation programs. Cover crops and contour farming further reduce sediment loss from sloping fields.  

Maryland landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. An independent panel of Maryland agricultural and conservation leaders evaluated the applications. The award recipient and finalists will be recognized at the Maryland Farm Bureau Annual Convention in December. Last year’s recipient was Twin Maples Farms of Ridgely in Caroline County.

Sand County Foundation’s Maryland Leopold Conservation Award is made possible through the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, Maryland Farm Bureau Inc., The Campbell Foundation, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Horizon Farm Credit, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Delmarva Chicken Association, ShoreRivers, and The Nature Conservancy.   

ACCOLADES

“The future of agriculture in Maryland is bolstered by farmers who have gone the extra mile to promote sustainability. Maryland Farm Bureau is proud to partner with the Sand County Foundation to honor these amazing Maryland farm families who have proven themselves to be great stewards of their land,” said Jamie Raley, Maryland Farm Bureau President. 

“MASCD congratulates the finalists for this year’s Leopold Conservation Award! Maryland has a strong track record for adopting conservation practices, and the award is a great opportunity to recognize farmers who go above and beyond to apply Leopold’s conservation ethic to the management of their farms and advocate for conservation within their communities. Thanks to both finalists for their extraordinary stewardship of our natural resources,” said MASCD President John Swaine, III. 

“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.”

For more information, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.