Sustainability has become synonymous with good land stewardship. Often, sustainability is referred to in the context of ecological resilience alone. But, more broadly, it is comprised of five elements: ecological, economic, social, cultural, and aesthetic.

Sand County Foundation has presented its Leopold Conservation Award annually since 2003 to private landowners who exemplify land stewardship and who are leaders in their communities. Initially presented in Texas and Colorado, these awards are now also made in several other states.

 
The award recipients are resilient, resourceful, and innovative managers who are remarkably in tune with their land, which provides high quality habitats. Together, they represent some of the best, brightest, and most conservation oriented landowners in the country. They think about sustainability in terms of passing their land in good condition to the next generation of their families. Their stories are insightful and inspiring.

 

In partnership with the Department of Ecosystem Science & Management at Texas A&M University, Sand County Foundation will bring these landowners together on October 24, 2008 to tell their stories in the first of a series of landowner symposia. The one day symposium will be attended by 50 to 80 landowners and agency personnel and will be open to up to 150 students.

 

Students from the Texas A&M University system were invited to participate in an essay competition focusing on the five elements of sustainability. The best essay in each of the five categories will be selected for presentation during the symposium. Each winner will receive a $1000 scholarship. In addition, 10 students were selected to visit one of the participating Leopold Conservation Awardees. These students helped the landowners prepare their presentations for the symposium.

 

Any student from the Texas A&M University System is welcome to register free of charge for the one day symposium. Attending the symposium will provide the opportunity to hear from and interact with some of the most innovative and brightest private land managers in the United States. Participating students will also be able to network with prospective employers in the private and public sector. 

SYMPOSIUM AGENDA (PDF)