Reminder: Utah Leopold Conservation Award Nominations Due Aug. 5

Know a Utah farmer, rancher or forestland owner who goes above and beyond in the care and management of natural resources? Nominate them for the 2021 Utah Leopold Conservation Award^®.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 22 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In Utah, the $10,000 award is presented with Utah Farm Bureau Federation, Western AgCredit and Utah Cattlemen’s Association.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the 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. Applications are reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders.

The application deadline date is August 5, 2021. Applications can be emailed to award@sandcountyfoundation.org. If mailed, applications must be postmarked by August 5, and mailed to:

Leopold Conservation Award

c/o Utah Farm Bureau Federation

9865 S. State Street

Sandy, UT 84070

The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.

“The wise use of our resources and care for the land are always on the mind for Utah’s farmers and ranchers,” said Ron Gibson, Utah Farm Bureau Federation President. “I’m proud of the great efforts of Utah’s farmers and ranchers to take care of the land. I look forward to recognizing them for what they’ve been doing, and will continue to do, with this prestigious award.” 

“Utah farmers and ranchers do an amazing job of caring for their lands and natural resources,” said Brent Tanner, executive vice president of the Utah Cattlemen’s Association. “We are happy to see their hard work recognized and rewarded through the Leopold Conservation Award.”

“As a 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. 

“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.”

The Leopold Conservation Award Program in Utah is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, Western AgCredit, Utah Cattlemen’s Association, Sand County Foundation, The Nature Conservancy in Utah, Producers Livestock Marketing Association, Utah Wool Growers Association, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, and the Utah Association of Conservation Districts.

The Utah Leopold Conservation Award will be presented at the Utah Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting in November.

The first Utah Leopold Conservation Award recipient was selected in 2007. Half Circle Cross Ranch of Coalville received the award in 2020.

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