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Leopold Conservation Award seeks nominees: Colorado landowners who exemplify land stewardship

January 27, 2009

The Award, which is comprised of $10,000 and an Aldo Leopold crystal, recognizes Colorado landowners who demonstrate outstanding stewardship and sustainable management of natural resources. The Leopold Conservation Award is presented in honor of famed conservationist and author Aldo Leopold who called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

“The Leopold Conservation Award is very important to honor landowners in Colorado and their efforts to improve our natural resources for everyone’s benefit.  In this day and age it is rare to find an organization that will recognize their hard work and dedication to land and community,” stated Chris West, CCALT Executive Director.  “Colorado is a better place because of these landowners.”

“We presented our first ever Leopold Conservation Award in Colorado in 2003, and the nominees each year have continued to be exceptionally strong,” said Dr. Brent Haglund, Sand County Foundation President. “We expect this year to be no different, which is a fantastic testament to Colorado landowners’ commitment to conservation and agriculture.”

The Leopold Conservation Award will be presented at the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention on Monday, June 15, 2009.

The nomination deadline is March 11, 2009. For more information, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org, or contact Amy Bader at amy@coloradocattle.org or 303-431-6422.

The awards are presented to accomplish three objectives: First, they recognize extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. Second, they inspire countless other landowners in their own communities through these examples. Finally, they provide a visible forum where leaders from the agricultural community are recognized as conservation leaders to groups outside of the industry.

Past Leopold Conservation Award winners from Colorado include:

2003 Capps Ranch - Frankie and Sue Menegatti
2004 Rusk Hereford Ranch –Randy and Claricy Rusk
2005 McNeil Ranch –Mike and Cathy McNeil
2006 Bohart Ranch –Dick and Sandra Tanner
2007 San Isabel Ranch –Bet Kettle, Mike and Sara Shields
2008 Coleman Ranches –Jim and Francis Coleman, Tim and Teddi Coleman

ABOUT SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION
Sand County Foundation is a private, non-profit conservation organization dedicated to working with private landowners to improve habitat on their land. In the spirit of Aldo Leopold, author of A Sand County Almanac, the Foundation encourages the exercise of private responsibility in the pursuit of improved land health. www.sandcounty.net

ABOUT COLORADO CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION
The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) is the state’s only nonprofit trade organization exclusively representing Colorado’s beef producers. Founded in 1867, CCA is the nation’s oldest state cattlemen’s association. CCA serves its members by speaking out on behalf of Colorado’s more than 12,000 beef producers. http://www.coloradocattle.org/

ABOUT COLORADO CATTLEMEN’S AGRICULTURAL LAND TRUST
Recognizing the need to help Colorado ranchers and farmers protect their agricultural lands, in the face of growing development and economic pressures, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association in 1995 formed the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT). http://www.ccalt.org/

ABOUT ENCANA OIL & GAS (USA) INC.
EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. is a dynamic North American industry leader in unconventional natural gas and integrated oil development. It is committed to benchmark  practices in safety and environmental stewardship, ethical business conduct and community responsibility. http://www.encana.com