Pictured is the Poncia Family of Stemple Creek Ranch, the recipient of the 2025 California Leopold Conservation Award.
There’s still time to nominate a California farmer, rancher, or forestland owner for the 2026 California Leopold Conservation Award®! Each year, the Leopold Conservation Award recognizes a standout steward of working lands and their ethical relationship with the land they manage.
Reading your conservation stories is one of the true highlights of our year, and we can’t wait to learn about more amazing land and resource stewards across California. The application deadline date is July 17th, 2026. Click here for Sand County Foundation’s application form. Email applications to award@sandcountyfoundation.org. Please contact us if you’d like to mail in your application: eepstein@suscon.org.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others to consider conservation opportunities on their land. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold advocated for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.
California’s working lands depend on the interconnected stewardship of natural resources, communities, and ecosystems. The Leopold Conservation Award recognizes land stewards who are dedicated to sustaining and strengthening this vital connection between agriculture and conservation. Josette Lewis, Sustainable Conservation CEO
For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org. If you have any questions about the process, including specific application questions, please feel free to reach out: eepstein@suscon.org.
Past recipients of the California Leopold Conservation Award. Paolo Vescia
