Sunday, June 23
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM Optional afternoon tour to Aldo Leopold’s Shack.
SPACE IS LIMITED!
Join us for a private tour of Aldo Leopold's famous Shack property guided by University of Wisconsin Professor Emeritus Stan Temple, and Aldo Leopold Foundation Executive Director Buddy Huffaker. You'll be transported by coach bus from the Edgewater Hotel, and will return ahead of our opening symposium reception. We have limited space available. Please register as soon as possible to reserve your spot.
5:00 PM - 5:15 PM Meet and Greet for Mentees
Mentees who participate in Sand County Foundation's Land Ethic Mentorship will meet for a special welcome in the Edgewater Plaza
5:15 PM - 7:00 PM Welcome reception on the shores of Lake Mendota.
Nothing beats a late June evening at the lake. Enjoy drinks, heavy appetizers and opening remarks outdoors on the Edgewater Hotel terrace.
Monday, June 24
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Full day symposium featuring speakers, discussions, and peer-to-peer learning
Welcome
- Kevin McAleese - Sand County Foundation CEO
- The Lay of the Land and Water Quality Challenges - Professor Emily Stanley - University of Wisconsin Center for Limnology
Conservation Success Stories from the Field
- Pete and Meagan Lannon - Montana Leopold Conservation Award recipients
- Loren Steinlage - Iowa Leopold Conservation Award recipient
Industry Panel Discussion: Ecosystem Services Opportunities for Your Farm or Ranch.
12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch
Conservation Success Stories from the Field
- Tuda Libby Crews - New Mexico Leopold Conservation Award recipient
- Kevin Waring - Maryland Leopold Conservation Award recipient
Panel Discussion: Mentoring Beginning and Historically Underserved Farmers
- Jon Bednarski - Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award recipient
- Soonnyoung Min - Kentucky Land Ethic Mentee
- Michael Johnson - Kansas Leopold Conservation Award recipient
- Carmen McKee - Indiana Land Ethic Mentee
Moderated Table Talks: Choose your own path among a wide range of informative topics including:
- Succession Planning
- New Revenue Streams
- Measuring Conservation Outcomes
- Water Resources Management
- Managing Woodlands
- Creating Successful Conservation Partnerships
- Conservation Easements, and more!
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Reception and Dinner
Gather for a lakeside cocktail reception before heading inside for dinner and conversation.
- Speaker - USDA-NRCS Chief Terry Cosby (tentative)
Tuesday, June 25
7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM Morning Session - Communication and Outreach
How do you tell your conservation story for maximum impact? Hear from a panel of seasoned Leopold Conservation Award-winning landowners about their community engagement, media relations, social media content creation and more.
- Seth Watkins - Iowa Leopold Conservation Award recipient
- Addie Yoder - Missouri Leopold Conservation Award recipient
- Alice Crothers - Maryland Leopold Conservation Award recipient
- Lorenzo Dominguez - New Mexico Land Ethic Mentee
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Farm and Field Tour
Get a front row look at Wisconsin's innovative dairy industry and farmer-led water conservation successes with a visit to Endres Berryridge Farms. This tour includes an on-farm discussion, lunch, and a stop at Indian Lake Park - gateway to the ecologically important Driftless Area which was untouched by glaciers during the last ice age.
- Jeff Endres - Chairman, Yahara Pride Farms - Owner, Endres Berryridge Farms
- John Koepke - Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award recipient
- Nancy Kavazanjian - Hammer Kavazanjian Farms
- Roger Bindl - Bindl Farms
- Greg Olson - Sand County Foundation Field Projects Director
- Kim Meyer - Dane County Land & Water Agronomist
- Eric Krueger - Dane County Conservation Specialist
2:30 - 3:00 Return to Edgewater Hotel
