Nominations are now being accepted for the Leopold Conservation Award® honoring agricultural landowners in Colorado who demonstrate outstanding stewardship and management of natural resources.
Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 23 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In Colorado, the $10,000 award is presented with the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Gates Family Foundation, American AgCredit, CoBank, Farm Credit of Southern Colorado, and Premier Farm Credit.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.
Nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.
The application deadline date is February 1, 2022. Applications can be emailed to morgan@ccalt.org . If mailed, applications must be postmarked by February 1, and mailed to:
Leopold Conservation Award
c/o Colorado Cattlemen’s Association
8833 Ralston Road
Arvada, CO 80002-2239
“The Leopold Conservation Award not only showcases the heritage of natural resource stewardship on working landscapes, but also highlights the positive influences agriculture has on the environment, our communities, and our economy,” said Steve Wooten, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association president and past Leopold Conservation Award recipient.
“Recipients of this award are real life examples of conservation-minded agriculture,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer. “These hard-working families are essential to our environment, food system and rural economy.”
“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of farmers, ranchers and forestland owners,” said John Piotti, AFT president and CEO. “At AFT we believe that conservation in agriculture requires a focus on the land, the practices and the people and this award recognizes the integral role of all three.”
The Leopold Conservation Award Program in Colorado is made possible thanks to the generous partnership and support of American Farmland Trust, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Assoc., USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Sand County Foundation, Gates Family Foundation, American AgCredit, CoBank, Farm Credit of Southern Colorado, Premier Farm Credit, The Stanko Ranch, Colorado Department of Agriculture, McDonald’s, The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, and The Nature Conservancy.
The first Colorado Leopold Conservation Award recipient, Capps Ranch of Walsenburg, was selected in 2003. May Ranch of Lamar received the award in 2021.