Leopold Conservation Award in Wisconsin presented to Terry Peters

*** Watch a video highlighting some of Terry Peters' accomplishments ***

Sand County Foundation and the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association are proud to name Terry Peters as the winner of the $10,000 2008 Leopold Conservation Award in Wisconsin.

“We are especially proud to present this award in Wisconsin where Leopold’s land ethic was developed,” said Sand County Foundation President Dr. Brent Haglund. “Leopold’s philosophy of responsible private land management still thrives here, and Terry Peters’ exemplary management is driven by a strong commitment to good science and his own ethical relationship with his land.”

Peters, who owns over 3,000 acres of timberland in Mellen, Wis. is a fourth generation timber harvester who got his start by following his father, Bud, on logging jobs as often as he could. Peters also spent time working at his grandfather’s sawmill. Like his grandfather and father, Peters has passed the family timber tradition along to his three sons: Jamie, Corey and Cody.

“Terry has been a long time supporter of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, as well as other organizations that support sustainable forestry,” said Henry Schienebeck, Executive Director of Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association. “His honesty and credibility with landowners, industry representatives and his employees has made him a leader amongst those in the logging community. “

Terry Peters is committed to keeping his business both economically and environmentally sustainable. Every parcel of land is part of a comprehensive plan that involves harvesting timber with considerations for habitat improvement, wildlife and water quality management. For instance, Peters has made a commitment to using resource management techniques that promote the production of less common timber species such as cedar, hemlock and white pine alongside the more common aspen and soft maple. This diversity not only expands Peters’ product range, it also helps support an array of plant and wildlife habitats.

Peters’ leadership and outreach within the community are exemplary. He has been a member of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute Advisory Board in Ashland, Wis. for over 16 years and is a charter member of the Bad River Watershed Association. Peters is a featured speaker at the Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center and also speaks to Northland College students about timber management. He also regularly participates in the Children’s Miracle Network’s “Log A Load for Kids” program.

Mr. Peters was honored Tuesday, June 24 at the Great Lakes Forest Alliance Conference at Monona Terrace in Madison.

For more information, please visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org or contact Kevin Kiley, Sand County Foundation, (608) 663-4605 x31.

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 Leopold crystal and a check for $10,000. In 2008, Sand County Foundation will present Leopold Conservation Awards in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, Utah and California.

In Wisconsin, the Leopold Conservation Award is made possible in part through the generous support of American Transmission Company.

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 SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION
Sand County Foundation (www.sandcounty.net) 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.