By Andi Anderson
The 2024 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award is currently open for nominations and applications, inviting entries from farmers and forestland owners who demonstrate exceptional commitment to soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat management on their working land.
Presented by Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust, the award is a tribute to those who go above and beyond in fostering environmental stewardship. In Illinois, the award is presented in collaboration with state partners IL Corn and Illinois Soybean Association.
Named after renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award celebrates landowners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement, aligning with Leopold's call for a "land ethic" – an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, as outlined in his influential book "A Sand County Almanac."
Nominations can be submitted on behalf of a landowner, and individuals can also self-nominate. The application deadline is May 1, 2024, and the application form is available at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.
An independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders will review the applications, with the selected recipient receiving a $10,000 award. The recipient's conservation success story will be featured in a video and various outreach efforts, with the official announcement scheduled for this summer. Last year's award went to Frey Family Farms of Dahlgren.
The Illinois Leopold Conservation Award is made possible through the support of American Farmland Trust, IL Corn, Illinois Soybean Association, Sand County Foundation, Coleman Family Fund, Farm Credit Illinois, Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership, McDonald’s, The Nature Conservancy in Illinois, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of Illinois.
Photo Credit: leopold-conservation-award-credit-sand-county-foundation
Categories: Illinois, General