leopoldconservationaward.org 2014 YEAR IN REVIEW ABOUT THE AWARD PRIVATE LAND PRODUCTS WE ALL CAN USE What happens on private agricultural land affects us all. Farmers, ranchers Landowners grow the crops With partners, we offer the Leopold Conservation and foresters who are good and animals that fuel our Award® Program in a growing number of states. stewards of the land provide bodies and rejuvenate our We identify, recognize, honor and celebrate leaders not only healthy food for spirits. Across our nation, in conservation agriculture. With the Leopold our table, but clean, abundant water, healthy soil and thriving wildlife. we are fortunate to have Conservation Award families, now more than hundreds of thousands of 70 strong, we can show that privately-owned, Sand County Foundation’s dedication to the cause of private landowner farmers, ranchers, and other “working landscapes” are loved no less, and conservation leadership is inspired by the writings and committed land producers who use their nurtured far more than many of the lands which stewardship of renowned author, scientist and conservationist Aldo private lands for their families’ benefits. And ours. the public would consider “wild.” Even though Leopold. In his famous A Sand County Almanac, Leopold wrote, “the their circumstances and crops differ greatly these Recognizing that private responsibility can grow landscape of any farm is the owner’s portrait of himself.” Sand County recipient families have a common ethic. This is the and be reinforced for the broader benefit, renowned Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Awards honor outstanding landowners “yarn” from which they weave the “greater part of conservationist Aldo Leopold gave his metaphorical who believe in and live by the tenets of Leopold’s land ethic. That is, a land the rug on which American stands.” ethic changes the role of people from conquerors of the land-community answer in the 1930s. It’s our hope that these stories give you even more to members and citizens of it. “It implies respect for his fellow-members It is the individual farmer who must weave the greater reason to appreciate the food that reaches your and also respect for the community as such,” Leopold wrote. part of the rug on which America stands. Shall he table. When you next gaze across the working weave into it only the sober yarns which warm the feet, The Leopold Conservation Award® Program recognizes and celebrates landscape in your area or in your travels, I ask you or also some of the colors which warm the eye and the extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation by private landowners to take a moment to thank the landowners, such heart? Granted that there may be a question which who inspire others by their examples. It provides a platform to elevate as our Leopold Conservation Award recipients, returns him the most profit as an individual, can there leading agricultural families as conservation ambassadors to citizens who commit themselves to improve the land be any question which is best for his community? This outside of agriculture. In addition, the program builds bridges between community – including its people. agriculture, government, environmental organizations, industry and raises the question: is the individual farmer capable academia to help advance the cause of private lands conservation. of dedicating private land to uses which profit the community, even though they may not so clearly profit Sincerely, Working with prominent state conservation partners in nine states, Sand him? We may be overhasty in assuming that he is not. County Foundation presents the $10,000 award and a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold, in settings that publicly showcase the landowners’ achievements. While our 21st Century opportunities and challenges in private land use differ in both degree Sand County Foundation and its many partners and sponsors actively seek and kind from those of eighty years ago, we at Sand others to become part of this important story. An award program of this stature County Foundation find reasons for optimism Brent M. Haglund, Ph.D. could not exist without quality landowner nominees or sustainable funding. in how landowners can make their land more President productive while enhancing the environment. In Leopold Conservation Award Program sponsors are proud to be affiliated Sand County Foundation’s view there is no inherent with a program that gives exceptional stewards of natural resources contradiction between them. the recognition they deserve. For more information, please visit: www.leopoldconservationaward.org Cover photo credit: Earl Nottingham, Texas Parks & Wildlife Cover photo credit: Earl Nottingham, Texas PAST CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA RECIPIENTS FULL BELLY FULL 2013 FARM BELLY FARM GIACOMINI DAIRY Andrew Brait, Paul Muller, Sacramento, California Bob, Karen, Diana, Lynn Judith Redmond and Dru Rivers and Jill Giacomini 2012 GIACOMAZZI DAIRY Dino and Julie Giacomazzi 2011 KOOPMANN RANCH Tim Koopmann 2010 MONTNA FARMS Al Montna Located northwest of Sacramento, Full Belly Farm is co- and cooler systems, and most row crops are irrigated 2009 owned by ANDREW BRAIT, PAUL MULLER, with buried drip systems and orchards with micro- RED ROCK RANCH JUDITH REDMOND AND DRU RIVERS. sprinklers. It pioneered Community Supported They began farming together in the 1980’s when Agriculture (CSA) farming and now serves 1,200 John Diener many farms were failing and there was no established families each week. Products are also sold at farmers organic produce marketing system. The owners are markets, in restaurants and stores and to distributors. dedicated to exceptional land stewardship and strive to 2008 With nearly 90 full-time employees, Full Belly Farm balance the farm’s bottom line with environmentally THREE CREEKS RANCH conducts highly effective sustainable agriculture sound practices. education and outreach efforts in Northern California. Chet Vogt Since 1985, Full Belly Farm has been a California Popular summer camps for youth and an adult Certified Organic farm and an industry leader. Its internship program inspire and teach future farmers. owners believe the diversity of crops grown on Urban consumers are reached through social media, 2007 the farm – annuals, perennials, grain, native plant the CSA food box program, informational booths and SIERRA ORCHARDS hedgerows, and animals – contributes to both its food sales at farmers’ markets, and through tours and ecological and economic resilience in the face of special events at the farm. More than 30 organizations Craig and Julie McNamara climate changes or crop failures. The farm successfully benefit from funds raised at the annual Hoes Down utilizes diverse management practices and innovations Harvest Festival, and the farm owners actively that incorporate both conventional and sustainable participate in leadership roles of various agricultural 2006 agriculture including soil health, riparian and habitat organizations. LANGETWINS improvement, agrobiodiversity, crop and animal WINE ESTATES PRESENTED IN Thomas Tomich, Ph.D., University of California, Davis product diversity. PARTNERSHIP WITH writes, “These remarkable farmers and the beautiful Brad and Randy Lange The farm pioneered a variety of innovative enterprise, farm operation they steward jointly epitomize the marketing and outreach strategies that allow the ethical relationship between people and the land that business to grow and support a year-round work Aldo Leopold articulated for us all, combining passion, force. A solar plant provides energy for the irrigation purpose and science.” Photo credit: Paolo Vescia PAST COLORADO COLORADO RECIPIENTS TURKEY CREEK 2013 RANCH VISINTAINER SHEEP CO. Walker Family Dean and Gary Visintainer 2012 WINEINGER-DAVIS RANCH Russell and Tricia Davis 2011 PIPE SPRINGS RANCH McEndree Family 2010 STANKO RANCH Jim and Jo Stanko 2009 MESA DE MAYA RANCH John and Carolyn Doherty TURKEY CREEK RANCH 2008 Fort Carson, Colorado COLEMAN RANCH Jim, Frances, Tim and Teddi Coleman 2007 SAN ISABEL RANCH Turkey Creek Ranch, sandwiched between the U.S. The act of cattle ranching and wildlife management go Army’s Fort Carson and the growing urban community hand in hand, and the life’s work of the Walkers proves Mike and Sara Shields, of Pueblo West, is owned and operated by GARY it. Under a Safe Harbor Agreement with the U.S. Fish Bet Kettle AND GEORGIA WALKER, and consists of and Wildlife Service, they successfully re-introduced approximately 65,000 deeded acres managed for both black footed ferrets, which were once thought to be 2006 wildlife and livestock. extinct. A total of 55 ferrets were released on the ranch BOHART RANCH in 2013, reviving the species’ presence in the region The Walkers’ ranch has been described as an island of Dick and Sandra Tanner and providing a natural predator of the prairie dog. intact natural systems, native species and quiet, open spaces. It is home to significant populations of three The Walkers’ forethought and long-term planning 2005 rare, indigenous plants and native wildlife species, has also included the installation of pipelines, water including elk, deer, pronghorn and wild turkey. storage tanks and stock ponds, playing an integral role MCNEIL RANCH Management decisions, including even basic visitation in the viability of the Turkey Creek Ranch as a home to Mike and Cathy McNeil to some areas of the property, are governed by the livestock and wildlife. potential impact on wildlife. The Walkers are lauded by community leaders and 2004 PRESENTED IN COLORADO PARTNERSHIP