Press Releases

 

Deadline for Leopold Conservation Award nominations in Kentucky is April 1

 

$10,000 award recognizes outstanding achievement in voluntary conservation

 

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
For more information contact:
Angela Blank
(502) 573-0450

 

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles reminds Kentucky farmers that applications for the 2017 Leopold Conservation Award in Kentucky are due by April 1.

“The Leopold Conservation Award promotes an ethic of voluntary conservation and land stewardship,” Commissioner Quarles said. “It recognizes farmers who go the extra mile to care for their land so that it will care for them in return. We are proud to be a part of this important program.”

 

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the $10,000 award honors Kentucky farmers and other private landowners who voluntarily demonstrate outstanding stewardship and management of natural resources. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture contributes $2,500 toward the award with money from the Ag Tag Fund, which is funded by voluntary donations from farmers when they buy or renew their farm vehicle license plates.

 

The 2016 award in Kentucky went to Turner Farms in Livermore, owned and operated by Mark and June Turner and their son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Hannah.

 

Nominations must be postmarked by April 1 and mailed to Leopold Conservation Award, c/o Franklin County Conservation District, 103 Lakeview Court, Frankfort, KY 40601. Electronic nominations and supporting materials may be submitted to colemansteve51@gmail.com on or before the deadline.

 

The award will be presented at the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts Convention on July 11 in Louisville. The award is presented by the Sand County Foundation, a nonprofit conservation organization, in partnership with the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts and the Kentucky Agricultural Council.

 

For more information, go to leopoldconservationaward.org or kyagcouncil.net.