New England Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Nominees

The prestigious $10,000 award honors farmers and forestland owners who demonstrate outstanding commitment to conservation by managing their land to improve soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat while maintaining productive working lands.

Presented by Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust, the Leopold Conservation Award recognizes private landowners across 27 states who inspire others through their dedication to environmental stewardship. In New England, the award is presented in partnership with New England Forestry Foundation.

Named in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award celebrates landowners who exemplify the land ethic Leopold famously championed in his influential book, A Sand County Almanac.

Nominations are encouraged from individuals or organizations familiar with a landowner’s conservation work, and landowners may also nominate themselves. Eligible applicants must own and manage land in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont.

Applications must be emailed to [email protected]. The application can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA. The application deadline is June 15, 2025. A panel of New England agricultural and forestry conservation leaders will review submissions and select the recipient.

Since its first presentation in New England in 2019, the Leopold Conservation Award has recognized exemplary land stewards dedicated to sustaining and enhancing the region’s natural resources. Last year’s recipients were David Moskovitz and Bambi Jones of Whitefield, Maine.

“New England’s landowners are at the forefront of conservation, balancing productivity with responsible stewardship,” said Ryan Owens, New England Forestry Foundation Executive Director. “The Leopold Conservation Award celebrates those who embody this commitment, demonstrating how thoughtful land management benefits people, wildlife, and the climate. New England Forestry Foundation is proud to support landowners who are strengthening local economies while safeguarding the natural resources that sustain us all.”

“Leopold Conservation Award recipients are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO. “Their dedication to conservation is both an inspiration to their peers as well as a reminder to all how important thoughtful agriculture is to clean water, healthy soil, and wildlife habitat.”

“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the award recipients,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that exemplary conservation involves the land itself, the practices employed on the land, and the people who steward it. This award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

The New England Leopold Conservation Award is made possible by the generous support of American Farmland Trust, New England Forestry Foundation, Sand County Foundation, Farm Credit East, David and Ann Ingram, and Yale School of the Environment.

For more details and to apply, visit www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA.

LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD

The Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. Sand County Foundation presents the award in California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont). www.leopoldconservationaward.org

AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST

American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through its No Farms, No Food message. Since its founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally sound farming practices on millions of additional acres, and supported thousands of farm families. www.farmland.org

NEW ENGLAND FORESTRY FOUNDATION

At the core of New England Forestry Foundation’s work stands the belief that both conserving forestland and practicing sustainable forestry are essential to preserving the beauty, prosperity, wildlife habitats, and unique character of our region for future generations. Our approach strives to serve and unite people and organizations across the region to support the long-term health of New England’s forests, and to guarantee their continued environmental, recreational, and economic benefits for all New Englanders. www.newenglandforestry.org

SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION

Sand County Foundation inspires and empowers private landowners to ethically manage natural resources so future generations have clean and abundant water, healthy soil to support agriculture and forestry, plentiful habitat for wildlife and opportunities for outdoor recreation. www.sandcountyfoundation.org