A Taylor County dairy farm couple has been chosen as the 13th recipient of Wisconsin's Leopold Conservation Award. Joe and Christy Tomandl of Medford will be recognized on December 4 during the annual meeting of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation in Wisconsin Dells. They will also be given a $10,000 cash prize and a Leopold crystal for demonstrating responsible stewardship and management of natural resources.
Both being Wisconsin natives who grew up on family farms, the Tomandls had a conservation plan in place before their first day of farming. With planning and financial assistance from the Taylor County Land Conservation Department and the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service, they built infrastructure to rotationally graze cattle. Pastures were seeded with perennial forages. Travel lanes, fencing, and waterlines were built, and a large wetland was restored.
The couple chose to raise New Zealand Friesians, which is a dairy breed known for its grazing efficiency. The cows are fed harvested perennial forages during the winter. A managed grazing system for the herd protects the farm's woodlands and wetlands, and grazing is delayed in some areas for grassland nesting birds.
By only grazing as many cows as their land can sustain, they are improving soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat.
Joe and Christy Tomandl were one of four finalists to compete for the Leopold Conservation Award this year. The others were Full Circle Farm of Seymour in Shawano County, Joe Hovel of Conover in Vilas County, and Noll's Dairy Farm of Alma in Buffalo County.
The Leopold program is being sponsored at the state level by the WFBF, along with the Sand County Foundation, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, American Farmland Trust, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Sand County Foundation, Culver's, 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.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Leopold Conservation Award recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. It inspires other landowners through these examples and provides a visible forum where farmers, ranchers and other private landowners are recognized as conservation leaders.
Categories: Wisconsin, Sustainable Agriculture