Sand County Foundation and Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation are proud to announce Herricks Dairy Farm is the recipient of Wisconsin’s Leopold Conservation Award®. The award honors Wisconsin landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources.
The announcement was made during the November 19 meeting of the Wisconsin Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Board in Madison. An independent judging panel made the selection September 17.
Jack and Pat Herricks, along with their children and their families, operate a 600-cow dairy farm in Cashton in the rolling hills of Monroe County.
The Herricks have practiced no till farming since 1992 before many farmers had considered it.
Jack Herricks’ decades-long commitment to conservation practices includes soil erosion control measures, reduction of runoff into area waterways, forestry management, enhancement of wildlife habitat and careful manure management.
“This is a great award,” said Jack Herricks. “It recognizes the lifetime of efforts that we’ve practiced on our farm. But for me personally, it offers another venue to spread my conservation ethic to more people. And I really look forward to doing that.”
“The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is proud to recognize Jack and Pat Herricks as this year’s recipients,” said Jim Holte, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President. “Their life-long conservation efforts inspire others and benefit our natural resources.”
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. 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 2014 Leopold Conservation Award will be presented December 7 at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting in Wisconsin Dells. The award recipient will be presented with a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold and $10,000.
The Leopold Conservation Award in Wisconsin is made possible through the generous support of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Badgerland Financial, Alliant Energy Foundation, American Transmission Company, DuPont Pioneer, Farm Credit, The Mosaic Company and The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation.
Visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.
ABOUT THE LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD
The Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. The award consists of $10,000 and a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold. Sand County Foundation presents Leopold Conservation Awards in California, Colorado, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
ABOUT SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION
Sand County Foundation (www.sandcounty.net) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to working with private landowners on voluntary, ethical and scientifically-sound land management practices that benefit the environment.
ABOUT WISCONSIN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation (www.wfbf.com) is Wisconsin’s largest general farm organization. It represents nearly 24,000 farms and agriculturists who belong to one of 61 county Farm Bureaus found across the state. Much like Wisconsin’s diverse agricultural landscape, Farm Bureau members represent all farm commodities, farm sizes and management styles. Farm Bureau’s mission is to lead the farm and rural community through legislative representation, education, public relations and leadership development.
