OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Know an Oklahoma rancher, farmer or forester who goes above and beyond in the care and management of natural resources? Nominate them for the 2020 Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award.
Sand County Foundation presents the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 21 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In Oklahoma, the $10,000 award is presented annually by Sand County Foundation, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Noble Research Institute, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, ITC Holdings Corp., Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Enel North America Inc. and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes those 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 Aug. 15, 2020. Applications can be emailed to award@sandcountyfoundation.org. If mailed, applications must be postmarked by Aug. 15, and mailed to:
Leopold Conservation Award
c/o Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture
2501 N. Stiles
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.
“Leopold Conservation Award recipients are at the forefront of a movement by America’s farmers and ranchers to simultaneously achieve economic and environmental success,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer.
The Leopold Conservation Award in Oklahoma is made possible thanks to the generous contributions from Enel Green Power, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Noble Research Institute, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, ITC Holdings Corp., U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Sand County Foundation, McDonald’s, Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts.
The recipient will be revealed in early 2021 at the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts’ Legislative Evening in Oklahoma City.
The first Oklahoma Leopold Conservation Award was presented to Jimmy and Ginger Emmons of Leedey in 2017. Jackson Farms of Mountain View received the 2018 award. The Chuck and Ruth Coffey family of Springer received the 2019 award.
For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.
— The Sand County Foundation Inc.
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