Three finalists have been selected for the 2026 Utah Leopold Conservation Award®.

The award honors ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land. 

Named in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, this award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement. 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.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In Utah the $10,000 award is presented with state partners: Utah Farm Bureau Federation, Western AgCredit and Utah Cattlemen’s Association.

The finalists are:

  • Larson Angus Beef of Washington County: Jeremy Larson has built conservation into both the land and the business of Larson Angus Beef by adapting to the realities of ranching in water-limited southern Utah. He has invested in rainwater catchments, pipelines, troughs, pasture subdivisions, and rotational grazing to improve forage recovery and livestock distribution while also providing dependable water for wildlife. He has also introduced Red Angus genetics better suited to the region’s heat and native forage and developed a direct-to-consumer beef business that adds value, connects customers with the ranch, and provides greater resilience when beef markets fluctuate.

  • Straight Arrow Ranch of Piute County: Trevor Barnson has built conservation into the management of Straight Arrow Ranch, using adaptive grazing, diverse cover crops, and thoughtful water and forage management to improve soil health and strengthen the resilience of the land. At the Elbow Ranch Wildlife Management Area, he has developed a grazing system that provides summer forage for cattle while intentionally preserving fall and winter forage for elk and mule deer, showing how ranching and wildlife management can work together. Trevor has become a leader and spokesperson for agriculture by helping advance practical conservation solutions.

  • Burton Land and Livestock of Iron County: David M. Burton Sr. took over Burton Land and Livestock at just 18 years old and has spent nearly five decades working with his family to improve the health and resilience of the southern Utah landscapes they depend on. During that time, he has tripled the operation in size while consistently putting conservation at the center of its growth, often adopting practices before they became commonplace, including rotational grazing, extensive water development, riparian protection, postfire restoration, and more recently virtual fencing to improve livestock distribution and protect sensitive areas.

Utah landowners were encouraged to apply or be nominated for the award. An independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders from Utah evaluated the applications. This year’s recipient will be revealed at the Utah Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Convention on November 19. 

The first Utah Leopold Conservation Award recipient was Harold Selman Ranches in Tremonton in 2007. The 2025 recipient was Pearson Ranch in Minersville.

Sand County Foundation’s Utah Leopold Conservation Award is made possible thanks to the generous contributions from American Farmland Trust, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, Western AgCredit, Utah Cattlemen’s Association, Utah Department of Natural Resources, CKP Insurance, The Nature Conservancy, Utah Association of Conservation Districts, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, and USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife.


ACCOLADES

“In today’s world, conserving water and natural resources is paramount, and we commend these families for their efforts in that regard,” said ValJay Rigby, Utah Farm Bureau Federation President. “The Sand County Foundation is a strong ally, and this award shows the positive impact of collaborative efforts in advocating for responsible natural resources use. While we can honor only a select few families with this award, they truly represent the vast majority of farmers and ranchers in our state who feel a sense of responsibility to the land and animals.”

“We congratulate each of the Leopold Conservation Award finalists and commend them for their commitment to responsible stewardship, innovation, and conservation. These producers demonstrate that caring for the land, water and natural resources is vital not only to the success of their operations, but also to future generations. They reflect the very best of agriculture, and we appreciate their leadership in advancing conservation throughout Utah,” said Tony Powell, Western AgCredit President.

“We are fortunate in Utah to have landowners who understand that their work is not simply production but also care. Throughout our state they demonstrate that stewardship of the land is part of their identity. The finalists for this award are living proof that agriculture and conservation advance together,” said Brent Tanner, Utah Cattlemen's Association Executive Vice President.

“These award finalists 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.”

For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.