DAVIDSONVILLE, Md. — A prestigious award program celebrating voluntary conservation by farmers and forestland owners is coming to Maryland.
The Leopold Conservation Award® recognizes landowners who inspire others with their voluntary dedication to ethical land, water and wildlife habitat management on working land. The award is in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.
Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to farmers, ranchers and forestland owners in 23 states. In Maryland, the award is presented with state partners Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment, Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts (MASCD), and Maryland Farm Bureau.
Owners of farm and forestland in Maryland may apply for the award themselves or be nominated by another party. The Maryland application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/
The recipient receives a $10,000 award and appearance in a feature video on the conservation success found on their farm or forest. The recipient will be announced at the Maryland Farm Bureau’s Annual Convention and Meeting of Delegates on December 6. The application deadline is August 31, 2021. Applications will be reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders.
“Maryland farmers have long been national leaders in science-based environmental conservation,” said John Torres, Maryland Farm Bureau executive director. “Farm Bureau and our partners want to recognize the work that our farming community has done and will continue to do to ensure the protection of our natural resources through this award. Our members are committed to growing and raising food in a sustainable and responsible way that allows for the continuation of the farming tradition here in The Old Line State,” he said.
Bruce Yerkes, MASCD president, said, “Recognizing exceptional farm stewardship is so important in our region, where the agricultural community carries so much of the responsibility for meeting water quality goals. The Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts is excited to work with the Maryland Farm Bureau and Sand County Foundation to bring the Leopold Conservation Award to our state.”
“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 Maryland Leopold Conservation Award is also made possible through the generous support of Maryland Department of Agriculture, MidAtlantic Farm Credit, Delmarva Chicken Association, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Conservancy, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, ShoreRivers, and The Nature Conservancy.
–Maryland Farm Bureau