By Blake Jackson
The Schoepp family of Lodi has been named the recipient of the 2026 Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award, recognizing its long-standing efforts to improve soil health, protect water quality, and preserve wildlife habitat.
The $10,000 award honors farmers and forestland owners who demonstrate outstanding conservation practices while maintaining productive working lands.
The family was announced as this year's recipient during the November 12 meeting of the Wisconsin Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection in Madison. A formal presentation is scheduled for December 6 at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation's Annual Meeting.
The award is presented by Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust in 28 states. Wisconsin partners include the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.
Named after conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes private landowners whose environmental stewardship encourages others to adopt conservation practices.
Leopold promoted the idea of a “land ethic” in his 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, emphasizing responsible relationships between people and the land.
Conservation Leadership on the Schoepp Farm
Dave and Nancy Schoepp and their son, Ron, have spent decades developing farming practices that protect natural resources while supporting agricultural production.
Their conservation efforts began with no-till farming in 1991, building on Dave's earlier decision to avoid tilling near waterways in the 1960s.
In 1996, the family introduced cover crops to maintain living roots and protect soil throughout the year. Five years later, they hosted a no-till field day with the University of Wisconsin's Arlington Research Station to demonstrate improvements in soil structure and erosion control.
Ron has continued expanding these efforts by sharing practical conservation knowledge with farmers, students, researchers, and international visitors. He regularly opens the family farm to demonstrate cover cropping, pasture management, and rotational grazing.
The family grows corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay while raising heifers and dry cows for a neighboring dairy farm. Since 1999, its livestock operation has incorporated intensive rotational grazing across 110 acres.
Cattle move through small paddocks before pastures receive approximately two months of recovery. The family also maintains a small grass-fed beef herd.
Grazing cover crops helps recycle nutrients, reduce fertilizer requirements, and support soil biology. Combined with diverse crop rotations and continuous no-till practices, these methods improve water infiltration and reduce nutrient runoff into Lake Wisconsin.
Ron manages approximately 500 acres across Columbia and Sauk counties. To limit soil compaction, the family voluntarily uses tractors with less than 100 horsepower.
In 2024, Ron joined the inaugural Advanced Soil Health Training cohort organized by American Farmland Trust and Purdue University.
Through continued conservation efforts and educational outreach, the Schoepp family demonstrates how responsible land management can strengthen farm profitability, environmental resilience, and water quality.
Photo Credit: sand-county-foundation
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