Leopold Conservation Award in Nebraska seeks nominees

Nebraska Cattlemen, in partnership with Sand County Foundation, is seeking nominations for the 2010 Leopold Conservation Award in Nebraska. The Award, which is comprised of $10,000 and an Aldo Leopold crystal, recognizes Nebraska 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 health of Nebraska’s landscape is dependent on hard-working farmers and ranchers across the state who dedicate themselves to ensuring that Nebraska’s land, water and wildlife are in better shape than when they found them,” said Dr. Brent Haglund, Sand County Foundation President. “Year after year, the quality of award nominations for the Leopold Conservation Award proves that Nebraska’s natural resources are being cared for by innovative landowners who want to see them flourish for future generations.”

The 2009 award recipient was Todd & Kristen Eggerling and Lyle & Alice Sittler, owners and managers of  Bluestem Valley Farms, Martell.

The Leopold Conservation Award in Nebraska is made possible through the generous support of: Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Cargill, Nebraska Beef Industry Foundation, Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation, Nebraska Environmental Trust, Nebraska Farm Bureau, Natural Resources and Conservation Service, and Sandhills Task Force.

The Leopold Conservation Award recipient will be announced April 22 and presented at the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Annual Convention in Kearney in December. 

Landowners may nominate themselves or others and nominations are also welcome from groups or organizations. The nomination deadline is March 22, 2010. For more information, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org, or contact Duane Gangwish, (402) 475-2333.

ABOUT SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION
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 ensure 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.

ABOUT THE LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD
The Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. The award consists of a crystal depiction of Aldo Leopold seated on a horse and a check for $10,000.

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

ABOUT NEBRASKA CATTLEMEN
The Nebraska Cattlemen is a grassroots organization whose individual producer members determine issues of importance to the Nebraska beef industry. The mission of the Nebraska Cattlemen is to nurture profitability for Nebraska beef producers and to provide leadership to the cattle industry in Nebraska, across the United States, and around the world. NC serves as the representative for the state’s beef cattle industry and represents professional cattle breeders, ranchers and feeders, as well as  county and local cattlemen’s associations. Its headquarters are in Lincoln and second office in Alliance serves cattlemen in western Nebraska.