Sand County Foundation, the Kentucky Agricultural Council and the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts are accepting applications for the Leopold Conservation Award Program in Kentucky. The $10,000 award honors Kentucky farmers, ranchers and other private landowners who voluntarily demonstrate outstanding stewardship and management of natural resources.

“Landowners throughout Kentucky are committed to the enhancement of the state’s rich and diverse landscape,” said Brent M. Haglund, Sand County Foundation president. “Their conservation work benefits us all.”

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. It inspires other landowners through these examples and provides a visible forum where farmers, ranchers and other private landowners are recognized as conservation leaders. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”

"The Kentucky Agricultural Council is proud to be part of the Leopold Conservation Award Program,” said Nancy Cox, Kentucky Agricultural Council chairman and dean of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “Last year’s winners were Jerry and Valarie Peery, who set a high standard for stewardship of natural resources on their farm. There aremany more agricultural producers in Kentucky, who are outstanding stewards of our natural resources and who are well deserving of this recognition. KAC is happy again to partner with Sand County Foundation to bring this prestigious award to Kentucky in 2015. This award will allow us to celebrate and learn from the examples of Kentucky farmers who have taken a thoughtful approach to conservation and stewardship of our land.” 

“KACD and conservation districts promote the sound management of all our natural resources, and we are excited to join the Sand County Foundation and the Kentucky Agricultural Council in recognizing a well deserving landowner in Kentucky,” said David Rowlett, KACD president. “The association and conservation districts work daily to assist private landowners in their efforts to adopt sound soil and water conservation practices on their land that benefit us all.”

Nominations must be postmarked by April 15 and mailed to Leopold Conservation Award, c/o Franklin County Conservation District, 103 Lakeview Court, Frankfort, KY 40601.

The award will be presented at the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Convention July 21.

The Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award is made possible thanks to the generous support of The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, The Mosaic Company and the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

For application information, please visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org/the-award/application-info/ or www.kyagcouncil.net.

About the Leopold Conservation AwardThe Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. The award consists of a crystal sculpture depicting Aldo Leopold and $10,000. Sand County Foundation presents Leopold Conservation awards in California, Colorado, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

About Sand County FoundationSand County Foundation (www.sandcounty.net) is a private, nonprofit conservation group dedicated to working with private landowners to improve habitat on their land. Sand County’s mission is to advance the use of ethical and scientifically sound land management practices and partnerships for the benefit of people and their rural landscapes.

About The Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts

The Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts is a 501(c)(3) organization consisting of Kentucky’s local conservation districts and watershed conservancy districts. KACD encourages the exchange of information relating to the administration and operation of conservation districts and watershed conservancy districts; to affect cooperation between districts and agencies and organizations concerned with any and all phases of soil and water conservation; to promote the welfare of conservation districts and watershed conservancy districts and the people therein; and to maintain strong and active membership in both KACD and the National Association of Conservation Districts.

About The Kentucky Agricultural Council

The Kentucky Agricultural Council is a 501(c)(3) organization consisting of some 80 agricultural organizations representing all sectors of Kentucky agriculture. The membership is composed of commodity groups, state and federal agricultural organizations, agricultural trade organizations and the state’s institutions of higher education that serve Kentucky agriculture. The KAC functions as an umbrella group and hub for its members, disseminating information and promoting coordination among all agricultural organizations and sectors. Since 2006, the KAC also has served as the “steward of strategic planning” for the future of Kentucky agriculture and Kentucky’s rural communities. www.kyagcouncil.net.