Another four Wisconsin farm families have been selected as finalists for the annual Leopold Conservation Award, in which the winner will get $10,000 for demonstrating responsible stewardship and management of natural resources.
The award, which is named in honor of world-renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, is presented annually in nine states to private landowners who practice responsible land stewardship and management. A winning recipient will be announced this fall during the WFBF convention in Wisconsin Dells.
"These award finalists are examples of how Aldo Leopold's land ethic is alive and well today," said Sand County Foundation CEO Kevin McAleese. "Their dedication to conservation shows how individuals can improve the health of the land while producing food and fiber."
This year's finalists include
** Full Circle Farm of Seymour in Shawano County: With nearly all of its 240 acres in pasture, Full Circle Farm builds soil organic matter while sequestering carbon. Rick Adamski, Valerie Dantoin and their son Andrew rotationally graze beef cattle, raise pastured hogs and laying hens, and 10 acres of vegetables.
** Joe Hovel of Conover in Vilas County: Joe Hovel protects unique and fragile habitats in Wisconsin's Northwoods. A woodland owner since in the 1970s, he began prioritizing the protection of ecologically important parcels in Vilas County in the 80s. He now manages 3,300 acres in several counties, including Porcupine Tree Farm and the Upper Wisconsin River Legacy Forest. His County Line Wood Products evolved from picnic tables to log homes, employing local labor using local timber.
** Noll's Dairy Farm of Alma in Buffalo County: The Noll family has practiced soil and water conservation efforts on their farm overlooking the Mississippi River for generations. Curtis, Mark, Scott Noll and their families, grow cover crops and utilize no-till and contour strip cropping practices to prevent soil erosion. They restored and actively manage an ecologically rare dry bluff prairie that is home to many endangered species. Their managed forest provides oak timber production and wildlife habitat.
** Tomandl Farms of Medford in Marathon and Taylor counties: As former agriculture educators, Joe and Christy Tomandl regularly host pasture walks at their three dairy farms, where they show the benefits of rotational grazing and conservation practices. Joe leads the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship, a first-of-its-kind program in the nation that helps others establish their own farms. In addition to a large wetland the Tomandls restored, they provide bird and wildlife habitat on pastures and woodlands.
The program, which is a partnership between the Sand County Foundation and Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, is also made possible through the support of American Farmland Trust, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Compeer Financial, McDonald's, The Nature Conservancy, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, We Energies Foundation, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board, Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association, and Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association.
Last year, John & Dorothy Priske of Fall River were named the winners of the Leopold Conservation Award.
This is the thirteenth year the program has been run in Wisconsin.
Categories: Wisconsin, Sustainable Agriculture