Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Iowa Leopold Conservation Award recognizes landowners who inspire others to consider conservation opportunities on their own farmland. Leopold Conservation Awards, presented by the Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust, are awarded to private landowners in 28 states. Here in Iowa, the $10,000 award is presented with Conservation Districts of Iowa and Practical Farmers of Iowa. Lance Irving, vice president of the Leopold Conservation award with the Sand County Foundation, said the award has been presented in Iowa since 2022 and across the country since 2003.
Irving said that, on top of the monetary award, recipients get a trophy and a video highlighting the practices they use on their farm.
Irving said even the applicants who don’t end up winning the award will see an array of benefits both environmentally and economically.
Applications for this award are open until July 1st of this year.
The application form can be found at www.sandcountyfoundation.org/ApplyLCA and must be emailed to IowaLCA@sandcountyfoundation.org.
