Sand County Foundation, in partnership with the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, Western AgCredit and the Utah Cattlemen’s Association, is accepting applications for the 2015 Leopold Conservation Award in Utah.
The award, which is comprised of $10,000 and an Aldo Leopold crystal, recognizes Utah farmers and ranchers who demonstrate outstanding stewardship and sustainable management of natural resources.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Leopold Conservation Award inspires other landowners by example and provides a visible forum where farmers, ranchers and other private landowners are recognized as conservation leaders. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”
“Leopold Conservation Award recipients represent the tremendous conservation work of ranching and farming families across Utah,” said Brent Haglund, Sand County Foundation President. “We look forward to recognizing more outstanding landowners who are committed to conservation in this great state.”
The 2015 award recipient was the Johnson Mountain Ranch of Sevier County.
The Leopold Conservation Award will be presented at the Utah Farm Bureau’s Convention in November in Layton.
“As the original environmentalists, farmers and ranchers are dedicated to caring for the land in their stewardship because it’s the right thing to do. They know that as they care for the land, the land will take care of them,” said Leland Hogan, president of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation. “We are happy to once again partner with the Sand County Foundation in recognizing Utah’s farmers and ranchers with the preeminent award for conservation.”
"It is always exciting to see farmers and ranchers rewarded for their hard work and for doing what they know is best for the land," adds Brent Tanner, executive vice president of the Utah Cattlemen's Association.
The nomination deadline is August 3, 2015.To download an application, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.
