MANHATTAN – Kansans are encouraged to nominate a farmer, rancher or private landowner who they believe demonstrates outstanding stewardship and management of natural resources for the 2016 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award. The Sand County Foundation, the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (KACD) and the Ranchland Trust of Kansas are accepting applications for the $10,000 award until May 30. Applications for the award must be postmarked by the deadline date, May 30, 2016, and mailed to KACD c/o Jim Krueger, 1008 2500 Avenue, Abilene KS 67410. Nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves.

“The Leopold Conservation Award Program provides a valuable opportunity to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Kansas agricultural landowners who are committed to strong conservation practices and effective stewardship,” said Jim Krueger, executive director of KACD.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Leopold Conservation Award inspires other landowners and provides a visible forum where farmers, ranchers and other private landowners are recognized as conservation leaders. In his influential 1949 book,A Sand County Almanac, Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”

The award will be presented on Nov. 21, 2016, at the KACD Annual Convention in Wichita.

The Leopold Conservation Award Program in Kansas is made possible thanks to the generous support of Clean Line Energy Partners, Ducks Unlimited, ITC Great Plains, NextEra Energy Resources, Westar Energy, Kansas Forest Service, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, USDA NRCS Kansas, DuPont Pioneer and The Mosaic Company.

For application information, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org/the-award/application-info/.

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