LIVINGSTON RANCH, 2019 LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD RECIPIENT • PHOTO: DJ GLISSON II, FIREFLY IMAGEWORKS. Sand County Foundation inspires and enables a growing number of private landowners to ethically manage the natural resources Dear Friends in their care, so future generations have clean and abundant For more than 50 years, the “land ethic” Aldo Leopold wrote about in A Sand County Almanac has guided our work to empower America’s water, healthy soil to support our growing food demands, plentiful farmers, ranchers and foresters to recognize and embrace conservation habitat for wildlife and opportunities for outdoor recreation. opportunities on their land.

Leopold’s idea of a land ethic is alive and well in the hearts and minds of Lynne Sherrod a growing number of landowners. Given the headwinds facing agriculture in 2020, landowner commitment to conservation efforts that improve the Chairman Sand County Foundation environment and rural economies has never been more urgent.

If a picture really is worth 1,000 words, the following pages will shed light on what a land ethic can look like on today’s agricultural landscape.

Thanks to your support, we’re proud to report that our work with landowners toward better water quality, soil health and wildlife habitat is taking root and growing.

Your investment in our work has also allowed us to build a team that is prepared to confront this era’s greatest environmental challenges. 2019 Kevin McAleese marked the single greatest expansion of the Foundation’s talent pool in President and CEO our 53-year history. Sand County Foundation

We are on the brink of big changes in agriculture and land ownership. Thanks to you, Sand County Foundation and hundreds of thousands of American land stewards are ready to meet those challenges head-on.

PHOTO: PAOLO VESCIA

“We greatly appreciated the Leopold Conservation Award recognition. Since then, I’ve helped others with nominations Leopold Conservation Award and served on the selection committee. I believe if you get Sand County Foundation created the Leopold Conservation Award program in 2003 to something, you have some obligation to give back whether recognize and celebrate landowners committed to a land ethic. that is in money or time or mentoring people or helping people improve their situation.” The class of 2019 Leopold Conservation Award recipients demonstrates the many ways farmers, - Dino Giacomazzi, 2012 Leopold ranchers and foresters are benefiting the environment and their bottom line by embracing Conservation Award recipient. conservation practices that conserve water, improve soil health and provide necessary wildlife habitat. This inspiring group includes landowners growing tomatoes in California, managing forests in New England, producing pork in , and grazing cattle from to .

This year, the award program expanded to Montana and the six states that make up New Many Leopold Conservation Award recipients believe so strongly in the program that they have England. In 2020 we’ll welcome the first recipient from New York into an alumni network that become supporters of it by giving of their time and resources. We talked to one such supporter, Dino is more than 130 strong. Giacomazzi, of Hanford California. What did receiving the Leopold Conservation Award mean to your family? It was an honor to be recognized for our work. We’ve been farming this same land for 127 years. Most of the work we have done and decisions we make are about how to manage our land and resources. It’s about sustaining the family business and taking care of the land because it’s the right thing to do for our kids and our community. We didn’t do it thinking there was going to be an award for doing what we’re supposed to do. But what’s great about being recognized is it creates an example about what is possible when you think about the future and you apply the future to the land. READ AND WATCH the stories of each 2019 Leopold Conservation Award recipient. How does the award program inspire farmers and ranchers? The Leopold Conservation Award encourages landowners to explore new conservation ideas and take risks. But what brings about these opportunities for growth and new ideas isn’t the award itself, it’s that there is a community around the award. Sand County Foundation holds events for award alumni that bring about conversations that wouldn’t happen ordinarily. The people at those meetings are like the one percenters of agriculture in my opinion. Not only are they brilliant but they are caring. They share Aldo Leopold’s view that we can continue to farm and improve the land and restore habitat and live harmoniously with the environment. I say it’s profitable environmentalism. They don’t have to be two different things. Conservation is a mindset. It’s an attitude. And I think the Leopold Conservation Award exemplifies that attitude. More farmers are partnering with us to demonstrate how planting native grasses and wildflowers next to crop fields can reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and provide wildlife habitat. Greater adoption of these prairie filter strips is expected thanks to their recent inclusion in the federal Conservation Reserve Program.

In 2019, we expanded the number of schools in our pollinator habitat grant program. Agriculture and science teachers in 22 high schools received native wildflower seedlings, a training webinar and $1,000 grants to engage students in establishing habitat on local farmland for insect pollinators and imperiled monarch butterflies.

Leaders representing 40 watersheds engaged at our 11th Leadership for Midwestern Watersheds forum. These annual convenings promote collaboration to scale-up project success and accelerate measurable water quality improvements.

A prairie filter strip in Iowa. Photo: Omar de Kok-Mercado Prioritizing Resources to Meet Water Quality Goals. The nation’s water quality is dependent on past, current and future land use and management decisions. To align priorities towards meeting national goals, Sand County Foundation conducted a comprehensive agricultural water quality assessment in partnership with more than 30 agriculture and water quality experts. The report identified primary focus areas critical to advancing conservation on agricultural land. These five areas of emphasis present opportunities where funding and support should be prioritized to address the nation’s agricultural water quality challenges.

Creating Urban/Rural Partnerships for Water Quality. When cities work in partnership with farmers to improve water quality, everyone wins. Our team spent part of 2019 negotiating a first of its kind agreement in Iowa that allows cities to meet water quality requirements by working with farmers to implement farm conservation practices that reduce fertilizer and manure runoff. By investing in farm conservation practices in the local watershed, cities could also avoid costly upgrades to water treatment plants. We are extending these opportunities to other cities and states in 2020.

Restoring Monarch Butterfly Habitat. Monarch butterflies are declining, especially on the west coast, and may be listed as an endangered or threatened species. Leaders of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, a fiscally-sponsored program of Sand County Foundation, were part of the team that developed the largest-ever collaborative effort to help them. The agreement will open the way for highway agencies and power companies to improve and expand habitat for the butterfly across 48 states.

Making the Endangered Species Act Work Better. Finding better, faster, cheaper ways for the nation’s Endangered Species Act to recover rare or declining species is a focus of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, or EPIC. Our colleague, Jake Li, represented EPIC during a segment on CBS Sunday Morning to discuss how to improve the Endangered Species Act for the benefit of wildlife and landowners. 70 LEADERS BY THE REPRESENTING NUMBERS LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD RECIPIENTS MANAGE OVEVERR 2.8 MILLION ACRES OVER * * OUROUR COCONSERVNSERVATATIONION MESSAGESMESSAGES WEREWERE 22 HIGH SCHOOLS SEEN MORE THAN RECEIVEDRECEIVED GGRANTRANTS TOTO GGIVEIVE MOREMORE THANTHAN 11,000 350 LANDOWNERS MILLION ANDAND INFLUENCERS TIMESTIMES THTHROUGHROUGH MEDMEDIAIA COCOVERAGEVERAGE! 600 STUDENTS 40 HANDSHANDS--ON EXPERIENCEEXPERIENCE PLANTINGPLANTING ATATTENTENDEDDED WATERSHEDS ENGAENGAGGEDED AT OUOURR ANDAND 14,000 POLLINATOR- EVENTS 11TH ANNUAL ONON OUTREACH LEADERSHIP FRIENDLY PLANTS PRESENTATIONS FOR LOCAL FARMLAND TOTO LLEARNEARN MMOREORE ABABOUTOUT MORE THAN DIVERSE PARTNERS ANDAND SPONSORS MIDWESTERN 6 EXPERIENCED MADEMADE THE LELEOPOLDOPOLD CCONSERVONSERVATITIONON AAWWAARDRD PRPROGRAMOGRAM WATERSHEDS PROFESSIONALS CONSERVCONSERVAATION-MINDEDTION-MINDED FORUM JOINEDJOINED OUROUR TEAMTEAM FARARMINGMING ANDAND RANCHINGRANCHING 175 POSSIBLE IN 20 STATES THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 DONORS! Association of Missouri Soybean Merchandising Diane & Dave Olenchek Conservation Districts Council Donors support Sand County Foundation’s work to advance voluntary conservation on private Paulson Institute Kentucky Corn Grower’s Association Montana Department of Agriculture Pennsylvania Association of land and find solutions to some of the most pressing environmental issues we face. We gratefully Kentucky Department of Agriculture Montana Department of Natural Conservation Districts acknowledge those who generously donated in 2019 and those who have continually supported Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation Resources and Conservation Pennsylvania Farm Bureau us over the years. Kentucky Pork Producers Montana Farm Bureau Federation Perkins Coie LLP Kentucky State University Montana Grazing Lands Holly Perrotti Kentucky Tree Farm Committee Montana Rangeland Resources Carolyn & Rolf Peterson Acacia Conservation Fund Dick Cates Gates Family Foundation Committee Kentucky Woodland Owner’s Pheasants Forever, Inc. Ann & Jim Addis Patrick Cauthorn Bob Giacomini Montana Weed Control Association Foundation Producers Livestock Marketing AgriBusiness Association of Kentucky Brenda Christensen & Tom Barry Green Cover Seed Dina & Mark Moore Kieser & Associates Association Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay City of Cedar Rapids Grady Grissom Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative Pamela & Jeff Kochel Professional Alliance Alliance for the Future of Agriculture Reed Coleman & Ann Miller Brent Haglund & Dayle Keitel-Haglund Debra & Todd Mortenson Mike Kollath Rainwater Basin Joint Venture in Leta Collord Kurt Haglund Catherine & Birch Mullins Amanda & Casey Langan Ranchland Trust of Amazon Smile Foundation Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Alan Haney Nina & Steve Laubach National Audubon Society American AgCredit Land Trust Mrs. David R. Hansen Mary & Dennis Ray Tod B. Linstroth National Fish & Wildlife Foundation American Farmland Trust Colorado Cattlemen’s Association Dave Hanson & Linda Bochert Restoration Systems, LLC LPC Conservation Natural Resources Conservation Peter Anderson Compeer Financial Harvey L. & Maud S. Sorensen Service Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Craig McNamara Association of Missouri Electric CropLife America Foundation Natural Resources Foundation of Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Cooperatives Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation Hull Forestlands LP Kevin McAleese & Tricia Wheeler , Inc. Foundation Bad River Ranches Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin William Hutchins Bobby McCormick, Ph.D. North Dakota Natural Resources Trust Roughrider Electric Cooperative David Bamberger Dairyland Power Cooperative Ann & David Ingram McDonald’s USA Nebraska Environmental Trust Sandhills Task Force Basin Electric Power Cooperative Dakota Community Bank & Trust Lesley & Ben Inker McKnight Foundation Nebraska Game and Parks Christina Schellpfeffer Ramona & Lee Bass Robyn & Tom Davison Iowa Corn Growers Association Craig McNamara Nelnet Foundation DENR - SD Discovery Center Bayer Crop Science Nancy & Marc DeLong Iowa State University Mike McNerney Network for Good South Dakota Soil Health Coalition Belle Fourche River Watershed Delta Waterfowl Linda Irving MFA, Inc. New England Forestry Foundation Partnership Diane Derouen & Glenn Chambliss ITC Mildred Michalski Chad Njos Del & Lynne Sherrod Lyschel Bersch Ducks Unlimited Wesley Jackson Millborn Seeds, Inc. Noble Research Institute Sibanye Stillwater Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Andrew M. Duda John J. Frautschi Family Foundation Ken & Bonnie Miller North Dakota Association of Soil Dale Sievert Bird Conservancy of the Rockies John P.C. Duncan & Anita Sarafa Jamie & Brian Johnson Milwaukee Metropolitan Conservation Districts Slope Electric Brenda & Donald Boydston Ecosystem Investment Partners Carol & Darrell Johnson Sewerage District North Dakota Chapter of the David B. Smith Caty Brown Enel Green Power Jean & Scott Johnson Missouri Assoc. of Soil and Water Wildlife Society Soil and Water Conservation Society Conservation Districts Nancy & James Bruins EPRI Frank Jones North Dakota Game & Fish Department South Dakota Association of Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Homer & Darla Buell Evergy Kalkowski Family North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition Conservation Districts Missouri Corn Merchandising Council Tina Buford Farm Credit Kansas Association of North Dakota Stockmen’s Association South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association Missouri Department of Agriculture Ingrid C. Burke Farm Credit Mid-America Conservation Districts Nossaman LLP South Dakota Department Missouri Department of Conservation of Agriculture Burleigh County Soil Farm Credit Services of America Kansas Dept. of Agriculture, Office of Montana Governor Division of Conservation Missouri Department of Natural Steve Bullock South Dakota Department of Game, Conservation District Carol & Jim Faulstich Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks Resources Mike Offner Fish & Parks California Farm Bureau Federation Tom Fenger and Tourism Missouri Farmers Care Foundation Cattlemen’s Association South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation Amy & Gary Cammack First Dakota National Bank Kansas Forest Service Missouri Pork Association Oklahoma Conservation Commission South Dakota Grassland Coalition Capitol Travel Paul Francis Mike L. Keiser Missouri Soil & Water Conservation South Dakota State University Dan Carey Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation Fund for Lake Michigan KEM Electric Program for Agriculture Foundation Cargill Ethel & Pete Garrett Kentucky Agricultural Council Missouri Soybean Association Oklahoma State University Spring Point Partners LLC Peggy & Bill Sproul Whole Foods Market Financial Responsibility Alli & Kartik Sribarra Wildlands and Woodlands 9.61% Jo & Jim Stanko William H. Donner Foundation, Inc. Windward Fund Assets Emily Stanley 9.92% Starion Bank Wisconsin Corn Growers Association ASSETS Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board Sustainable Agriculture Research Cash 106,128 & Education Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Promises to Give 605,578 Sustainable Conservation Wisconsin Land and Water Buck Sweeney Conservation Association Accounts Receivable 91,269 Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Prepaid Expenses 19,613 Growers Association 15.54% Richard Taylor & Suzie Paris Long-term Investments 9,425,825 Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board Ellen Temple Property & Equipment - Net 6,573 Woodtiger Fund Stan Temple World Wildlife Fund - Northern Texas Parks and Wildlife Great Plains Program TOTAL ASSETS $10,254,986 The Dixon Water Foundation Yale School of Forestry & The Farm Credit Associations of Kansas Environmental Studies 15.82% Liabilities and Net Assets The Heinz Endowments YourCause LLC LIABILITIES The Ida and Robert Gordon Tom Zale Family Foundation Accounts Payable 38,416 The John Merck Fund Grants Payable 40,000 The Nature Conservancy Other Liabilities 76,317 Marcus Trapp TOTAL LIABILITIES $154,733 Peggy & Jon Traver Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association NET ASSETS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Unrestricted Net Assets 6,399,588 UK College of Agriculture, Food Temporarily Restricted Net Assets 3,700,665 & Environment TOTAL NET ASSETS $10,100,253 United Soybean Board University of Illinois TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS $10,254,986 Association of Conservation Districts Utah Department of Agriculture 49.1% Sand County Foundation has always been committed to full and Food financial transparency. The Foundation is classified as a 501(c) Utah Farm Bureau Federation Sand County Foundation is a Gold Level (3) Public Charity under IRS code. The report of an independent Utah Wool Growers Association GuideStar participant. This means 20201919 REREVENUEVENUE SOUSOURCESRCES auditor, 2019 audited financial statements and our 2019 tax Wagner Land & Livestock we are committed to demonstrating FFOUNDAOUNDATIOTIONSNS return are available at sandcountyfoundation.org Walton Family Foundation transparency and accountability to our OORGANIZARGANIZATIONSTIONS Ed Warner & Jackie Erickson donors. View Sand County Foundation’s In addition, Sand County Foundation conducts organizational IINDIVIDUALNDIVIDUAL/F/FAMILY We Energies Foundation profile on GuideStar’s website to find and programmatic reviews of its work every three to four years. Western AgCredit details about our financials, program GOGOVERNMENTVERNMENT This interdisciplinary review process is conducted by prominent Bill White activities and impact. BBUSINESUSINESSS independent experts and helps guide our priorities and strategies. PHOEBE HIGGINS Board of Directors Foundation Staff BOZEMAN, MONTANA HEIDI PETERSON CHAIRMAN Kevin McAleese STILLWATER, MINNESOTA Lynne Sherrod President and CEO Owner - Rocking U7 Ranch, Colorado Heidi Peterson, Ph.D. BARTLETT DURAND CHAIRMAN EMERITUS Vice President - Agricultural Research and MADISON, WISCONSIN Reed Coleman Conservation CEO, Retired - Madison Kipp Corporation, Christina Schellpfeffer Wisconsin Vice President - External Relations VICE-CHAIR/SECRETARY David Bailey LIINA KEERD David Hanson Western Director - Leopold Conservation Award Attorney - Michael Best & Friedrich, Wisconsin DAVID BAILEY MADISON, WISCONSIN Program OGDEN, UTAH TREASURER K. Bartlett Durand, Jr., Esq. Homer Buell Director - Water Quality Partnerships SRI VEDACHALAM Owner - Shovel Dot Ranch, Nebraska Craig Ficenec WASHINGTON DC AREA Tina Buford Program Director Owner - H. Yturria Ranch, Texas Phoebe Higgins Dick Cates, Ph. D. Director of Markets - Environmental Policy Innovation Owner - Cates Family Farm, Wisconsin Center Kevin Conrad Lance Irving Entrepreneur and Conservationist, New York National Director - Leopold Conservation Award Nancy DeLong Program Agriculture Sustainability Consultant, Iowa Liina Keerd John P. C. Duncan Program Assistant Attorney - Kozusko Harris Duncan, Illinois Casey Langan Brent Haglund, Ph.D. Communications Director Chief Scientific Officer - Sand County Ya-Wei (Jake) Li Foundation, Wisconsin Director of Biodiversity - Environmental Policy Stanley Temple, Ph.D. Innovation Center Professor Emeritus - University of Wisconsin, Timothy Male, Ph.D. Wisconsin Executive Director - Environmental Policy Innovation Ed Warner Center Sand County Foundation’s work to inspire more farmers, ranchers and foresters to embrace Geologist and Philanthropist, Colorado Greg Olson conservation practices is more important than ever as an estimated two-thirds of American DIRECTOR EMERITUS Field Projects Director farmland will change hands in the coming decades. Your support, including special gifts to Indy Burke, Ph.D. Holly Perrotti Dean - Yale School of the Environment, Director of Operations our Campaign for Conservation, helps us build our capacity to address critical environmental Connecticut Sridhar Vedachalam, Ph.D. issues. Thanks to your contributions in 2019, we expanded our talented team with conservation Director of Water - Environmental Policy Innovation Center professionals from Big Sky Country to our nation’s capital. Click here to read more about them. Katie Ziemer Soil Conservationist “Conservation can accomplish its objectives only when it springs from an impelling conviction on the part of private landowners.”

- ALDO LEOPOLD

ENABLING LANDOWNERS. ADVANCING A LAND ETHIC.

* 131 West Wilson Street, Suite 610 Madison, Wisconsin 53703 * sandcountyfoundation.org *

Rominger Brothers Farms, 2019 California Leopold Conservation Award recipient. Photo: Paolo Vescia