Sand County Foundation

05/29/2026

Three landowners improving soil health, water quality, & wildlife habitat have been selected as finalists for the Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award.

Find out who at https://sandcountyfoundation.org/news/2026/kentucky-leopold-conservation-award-finalists-selected

Award made possible with support from American Farmland Trust, We are Kentucky Agriculture, Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts - KACD, Kentucky Farm Bureau, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of Kentucky, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Farm Credit Mid-America, Kentucky Cattlemen's Association, Kentucky Corn and Small Grains, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, & others!

05/28/2026

Meet Loran Steinlage, one of three farmers who will coach conservation-focused, learning cohorts for beginning, first-generation, military veterans, and other historically underserved farmers and ranchers from Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Joins us for a Zoom call on June 8th or 9th to discover what the program has to offer - and help shape it. We are building this curriculum with you. https://sandcountyfoundation.org/our-work/outreach---education/land-ethic-mentorship/midwest-farmer-cohort

Participants are eligible for $250-$500 microgrants to support their own conservation and regenerative agriculture efforts. This free opportunity is made possible with support from Cargill, Farm Credit, and The Ida and Robert Gordon Family Foundation.

05/27/2026

Check out this great profile on farmer-led watershed groups featuring Greg Thoren, the 2026 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award recipient.

The growing impact of these farmer-led groups makes us think of this Aldo Leopold quote: "Conservation can accomplish its objectives only when it springs from an impelling conviction on the part of private landowners."

The "farmer-led movement" aims to shape the agricultural landscape by strengthening soils and building community.

05/27/2026

Our work with schools in Alabama is about growing native wildflowers for pollinators, and inspiring the next generation of conservationists.

To accomplish both, students at Career Academy - Crenshaw County Schools were one of three schools to study seed stratification and the germination process as part of our pollinator habitat education program.

Part of their planting experience included touring long-leafed pine forestland grown with conservation practices in conjunction with project sponsor, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of Alabama. Support for this field day was also provided by the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee.

For more on this project, visit: https://sandcountyfoundation.org/our-work/outreach---education/pollinator-habitat-education-program/alabama-program

05/26/2026

Our pollinator habitat education program is taking root in Alabama!

Thanks The Luverne Journal for this coverage!

New pollinator garden in Luverne gives Crenshaw County students hands-on lessons in native plants, conservation careers and habitat restoration.

05/15/2026

Wexford Ranches are seven diverse properties across seven Texas counties. Collectively, they showcase the O’Connor family’s commitment and devotion to the unique ecosystems and wildlife found in the Lone Star State.

Learn more about the 2026 Texas Leopold Conservation Award recipient at https://sandcountyfoundation.org/our-work/leopold-conservation-award-program/wexford-ranches

Award made possible with support from Texas Parks and Wildlife, American Farmland Trust, Lee & Ramona Bass, & Dixon Water Foundation.

05/14/2026

Do you want to be part of a landmark conservation effort to promote and accelerate regenerative grazing management, habitat restoration, and conservation of wildlife and water on working ranchland across the U.S.?
Sand County Foundation is hiring two to four people to work remotely within our key program states. Full and part-time positions are available. Applications are currently being reviewed.
To learn more, visit https://sandcountyfoundation.org/about/careers
Remote locations for this position include: Colorado, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.

JOB POSTING - Grazing Land, Grassland, or Rangeland Management Specialist Remote locations for this position include: Colorado, Montana, Nevada, North…

05/13/2026

Great profile from our friends at Savanna Institute on the 2024 recipient of the Iowa Leopold Conservation Award!

05/11/2026

We are looking for beginning, first-generation, military veterans, and other historically underserved farmers and ranchers from Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Sand County Foundation is forming three conservation-focused, learning cohorts with curriculums basedon needs and experiences. Each will be led by innovative farmers who have been honored by the Leopold Conservation Award.

Participants are eligible for $250-$500 microgrants to support their own conservation and regenerative agriculture efforts.

Interested? Register for Zoom meetings on June 8 or 9 to gauge interest. Learn more at https://sandcountyfoundation.org/our-work/outreach---education/land-ethic-mentorship/midwest-farmer-cohort

This opportunity is made possible with support from Cargill, Farm Credit, and The Ida and Robert Gordon Family Foundation.

Midwest Farmer Cohort

05/08/2026

20 years of the Leopold Conservation Award in California is reason to celebrate!

Loren and Lisa Poncia of Stemple Creek Ranch joined us to host a gathering of their fellow Leopold Conservation Award recipients and other California conservation leaders this week.

The California Leopold Conservation Award is made possible with support from California Farm Bureau, Sustainable Conservation, American Farmland Trust, Harvey L. and Maud C. Sorensen Foundation, Bowles Farming Company, Inc., California Rangeland Trust, & Farm Credit.

Learn more about Stemple Creek Ranch's conservation success story at https://sandcountyfoundation.org/our-work/leopold-conservation-award-program/stemple-creek-ranch