New England Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Applicants
January 20, 2026
Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 New England 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.
Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In New England the $10,000 award is presented with the New England Forestry Foundation and the New England chapter of American Farmland Trust.
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 in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Landowners may also nominate themselves. The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.
The application deadline date is June 15, 2026. Applications must be emailed to NewEnglandLCA@sandcountyfoundation.org.
Applications are reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and forestry conservation leaders from New England. Last year’s award recipients was Sweetland Farm of Norwich, Vermont. To view profiles of all past recipients, click here.
“New England’s landowners are at the forefront of conservation, balancing productivity with responsible stewardship,” said Ryan Owens, New England Forestry Foundation Executive Director. “The Leopold Conservation Award celebrates those who embody this commitment, demonstrating how thoughtful land management benefits people, wildlife, and the climate. New England Forestry Foundation is proud to support landowners who are strengthening local economies while safeguarding the natural resources that sustain us all.”
“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 New England Leopold Conservation Award is made possible through the generous support and partnership of American Farmland Trust, New England Forestry Foundation, Sand County Foundation, Farm Credit East, David and Ann Ingram, LandVest, University of Vermont, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Vermont Housing & Conservation Board.
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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