CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Padlock Ranch, recipient of this year’s Leopold Conservation Award in Wyoming, was honored by Governor Matt Mead during a ceremony at the state capitol. Governor Mead signed a proclamation declaring July 9, 2013 as Wyoming Environmental Stewardship Day which marks the date of the Environmental Stewardship Tour hosted by the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. The annual event showcases the Leopold Conservation Award recipient. This...
read moreSand County Foundation and the Kentucky Agricultural Council have announced the launch of the Leopold Conservation Award program in Kentucky, and are accepting applications for the award. The $10,000 Leopold Conservation Award will honor Kentucky farmers, ranchers and other private landowners who voluntarily demonstrate responsible stewardship and management of natural resources. “Private landowners across the State of Kentucky are doing exceptional land conservation work,” said Brent Haglund, Ph.D., Sand County Foundation President....
read moreSand County Foundation, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association and the South Dakota Grassland Coalition are proud to announce The Guptill Ranch as the recipient of the 2013 Leopold Conservation Award, which honors South Dakota landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources. “Having grown up on a farm, I know how precious the land is to South Dakotans who owe their livelihoods to our natural resources,” said South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard. “Farmers and ranchers, such as the Guptill Family,...
read moreSand County Foundation, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, and Peabody Energy are proud to name the Visintainer Sheep Co. of Craig, Colorado as the recipient of the 2013 Leopold Conservation Award. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes private landowner achievement in voluntary conservation, and is presented annually. The Visintainers will receive $10,000 and a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold at the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association Annual...
read moreSand County Foundation, the Nebraska Cattlemen and Cargill are proud to announce The Beel Ranch as the recipient of the 2013 Leopold Conservation Award, which honors Nebraska landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources. Celebrating 75 years on their nearly 22,000-acre cattle operation near Johnstown, brothers Frank, Henry and Adam, along with their wives Jennifer, Mary and Jenny own and operate The Beel Ranch. The ranch was handed down by their father and grandfather who instilled in them the...
read moreThe Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) was recently presented the Julie and Spencer Penrose Award by the El Pomar Foundation. The award recognizes Colorado’s “most outstanding non-profit”. CCALT is the first organization affiliated with agriculture or conservation to receive the award. Sand County Foundation is pleased to partner with CCALT, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., and Peabody Energy to present the annual Leopold Conservation Award, which, to date,...
read moreIt wasn’t just the sound of cattle echoing across the Buell family’s Shovel Dot Ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills this fall. The loud, trumpeting bugles of endangered whooping cranes rolled through the well-managed property owned by Larry and Nickie and Homer and Darla Buell for nearly a week. The Buell family has been the steward of natural resources in Nebraska’s Sandhills for over 130 years. The current ranch is located in southern Rock and northern Loup Counties. Through innovative grazing techniques, acute attention to water and...
read moreCousins Karl and Raymond Heaton are fourth generation ranchers responsible for the management of over 140,000 private and federal acres at Heaton Ranch, located in Alton. The ranch consists of approximately 1,250 head of cattle. The Heatons believe that natural resources conservation is critical to the success of their ranching business. They utilize conservation practices to improve grassland, water quality, and wildlife habitat at the ranch. Water quality and delivery improvements include the development or restoration of over 50 stock...
read moreJim and Valerie Hebbe, along with their daughter, Ashley, operate a cash grain farm in Green Lake County. In his nearly 30 years of experience in melding conservation and agriculture, Jim is the essence of adaptive management. Jim began farming in 1983 by renting some land from his father. He planted field corn, using conventional tillage, resulting in poor yields. Following a couple of attempts, Jim realized that he needed a system that conserved soil moisture and improved organic matter. This led him to no-till farming in 1986, when he...
read moreSand County Foundation, the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, the Utah Cattlemen’s Association, and Western AgCredit are pleased to name the Heaton Ranch as the recipient of the 2012 Leopold Conservation Award. “The Heatons understand how important healthy natural resources are to the success of their ranch,” said Brent Haglund, Sand County Foundation President. “They have made a family commitment to make management decisions that will help ensure that the ranch and its natural resources will, not only endure, but thrive for future...
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