Sand County Foundation, the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, the Utah
Cattlemen’s Association and Western AgCredit are pleased to name the
Osguthorpe family as the recipient of the 2011 Leopold Conservation
Award.
“The Osguthorpes have made conservation a family tradition,”
said Brent Haglund, Sand County Foundation President. “Through adaptive
management techniques, innovation and outreach, Steve and his family are
going a long way to ensure that the agricultural operation and its
natural resources will, not only endure, but thrive for future
generations.”
While managing their 178,000 acres of land near
Park City, Steve Osguthorpe and his family carry on a tradition of
conservation and sustainable agriculture that Steve inherited from his
father, D.A. “Doc” Osguthorpe.
“One thing my father taught us is
if you have land, you leave it in better condition than you found it,
for the benefit of the next generation,” Steve Osguthorpe said.
“Protecting the soil and watersheds, that’s been the focus of our
farming operations, because we know that if we’re going to be in
business tomorrow, we’ve got to take care of the land today.”
When
the Osguthorpes began working their land, primary income sources were
livestock, crops, and wool. Although the family continues to run sheep
and grow alfalfa, corn, barley, and oats, they have incorporated other
sources of income into their agricultural operation. A forestland
management plan has allowed the family to add timber sales into the
equation. In addition, the Osguthorpes made a significant change to
their land management strategy by adding recreation to their operation.
They lease approximately 1,000 acres to the Canyons Ski Resort and
operate a horseback riding and snowmobiling company. These changes
allowed Steve and his family to adjust to changing economies and
surrounding land uses, while keeping the land in agricultural production
and natural forest. Watershed management is a key component of the
family’s conservation efforts. Steve developed a seed mix for use on the
land the family leases to the ski resort, which has reduced soil
erosion and stream sediment to the point where the streams on their
property now run clear.
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Utah Partners
Sand County Foundation is a private, non-profit 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. Sand County Foundation works with private landowners because the majority of the nation’s fish, wildlife, and natural resources are found on private lands. The organization backs local champions, invests in civil society and places incentives before regulation to create solutions that endure and grow. The organization encourages the exercise of private responsibility in the pursuit of improved land health as an essential alternative to many of the commonly used strategies in modern conservation.
The Utah Farm Bureau is the’ largest general farm and ranch organization in the state with more than 27,000 member families. Its mission is to improve economic opportunities for the state’s farmers and ranchers, ensure America's food security, protect the natural resources of our state, and improve the overall quality of life in the state and nation through political action, educational and informational means. The Farm Bureau is a non-partisan, voluntary organization, and its efforts are based on grassroots policies developed by members at the local, county, state, and national levels. It is affiliated with the American Farm Bureau Federation, the world’s largest general farm organization, with more than 6 million family members in 50 states and Puerto Rico.
UTAH CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION The Utah Cattlemen's Association is a cattle industry, member driven, organization formed in 1890 for the purpose of promoting and protecting the business of raising cattle in the State of Utah. The association works to uphold the rights of all persons engaged in the cattle business. Members are encouraged to improve the quality of cattle and beef produced and adopt good principles of management while caring for livestock and the land. The association represents cattlemen on state and local issues and is affiliated with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association on national issues.
WESTERN AGCREDIT Western AgCredit is the leader within the agricultural finance industry with over 90 years of lending to farmers in the Intermountain West. It currently serves approximately 1,700 customers with a full range of credit and financial services, as well as providing financial and volunteer support to several agricultural and community activities, including, among others, Utah Farm Bureau, Utah Cattlemen's Association, FFA, 4-H, and Ag in the Classroom.
The Leopold Conservation Award in Utah is made possible through the generous support of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation and:
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