Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Applicants
February 09, 2026
Applicants are now being accepted for the 2026 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania, the $10,000 award is presented with The Heinz Endowments, Horizon Farm Credit, and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.
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 applicants may be submitted on behalf of a landowner or landowners may nominate themselves. The application form can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.
The application deadline date is August 1, 2026. Applications must be emailed to PennsylvaniaLCA@sandcountyfoundation.org.
Applications are reviewed by an independent panel of Pennsylvania’s agricultural and conservation leaders. Last year’s recipient was Jim Hershey of Elizabethtown. To view profiles of all past recipients, click here.
“Conservation is essential to the future of agriculture, and the Leopold Conservation Award celebrates farmers and landowners committed to responsible stewardship of their land,” said Tom Truitt, Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Farm Credit. “Their dedication is an inspiration to others and a powerful reminder of the role agriculture plays in protecting water, soil, and wildlife habitats. Farm Credit is proud to support those advancing this important work.”
“Farmers are always looking for ways to save their resources and to utilize technology so that the next generation has a place,” said Chris Hoffman, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President. “We want to celebrate those who use technology and have farming practices that preserve our natural resources. We want to encourage Pennsylvania farmers to showcase their dedication to stewardship and innovative approaches to conservation by applying for the 2026 Leopold Conservation Award.”
“How we manage land and water resources has a profound impact on the quality of life, and the security of our food supply for future generations,” Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “The Leopold Conservation Award recognizes farmers who have been models of ethical, effective soil and water conservation, not just for the quality and productivity of their own land, but for clean water, healthy soil and an abundant food supply for generations to come.”
“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 Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award is made possible through the generous support from American Farmland Trust, The Heinz Endowments, Horizon Farm Credit, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Sand County Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, and The Nature Conservancy.
For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.