The Leopold Conservation Award for Kansas 2025 is presented by the Sand County Foundation in collaboration with national sponsor American Farmland Trust and Kansas-based partners including the Ranchland Trust of Kansas and the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts. This prestigious award honors the legacy of Aldo Leopold, a prominent conservationist known for promoting ethical relationships between landowners and the environment in his book A Sand County Almanac. The award recognizes farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who demonstrate exceptional land stewardship practices that improve soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working lands.
This $10,000 award is open to private landowners and can be applied for directly by the landowner or via nomination from a third party. Applications are reviewed by an independent panel of Kansas-based agricultural and conservation experts. All nominations must be submitted by email to KansasLCA@sandcountyfoundation.org by June 2, 2025. The award spans across 28 states and aims to inspire others to embrace voluntary conservation practices.
To apply, nominees must provide basic identifying information including their name, farm or business details, and contact information. They must also answer five essay questions limited to 1,000 words each. These questions focus on the nominee’s conservation ethic, resilience of the operation, leadership and outreach, innovative practices, and how their operations work with natural ecosystems. Additionally, applicants must include details on acreage, type of operation, participating agencies or programs, and advisors consulted.
Each application must also include three letters of recommendation, with at least one from a natural resource conservation organization or agency. Nominees are required to affirm several statements regarding property ownership, regulatory compliance, and willingness to engage in media activities, including the production of a video showcasing their operation.
The Kansas-specific award is additionally supported by Green Cover Seed, the Kansas Department of Agriculture's Division of Conservation, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Kansas Ducks Unlimited, Kansas Forest Service, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
