Four farms and ranches are finalists for the 2014 Leopold Conservation Award in South Dakota. The award recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources. Finalists are:

•Cronin Farms of Gettysburg, a multi-generational mixed livestock and crop farm owned by Monty and Mike Cronin and their wives Nancy and Jamie.

•John and Donita Moes of Florence. The Moes family owns and operates a cow/calf operation and farm including a feedlot and ag waste pond.

Love of the land is evident in the four families who are finalists for a conservation award in South Dakota.

•Jorgenson Land and Cattle Partnership of Ideal, a fourth generation diversified crop, livestock and hunting operation. It is owned by Bryan and Brenda Jorgensen; Cody and Abby Jorgensen; Greg and Deb Jorgensen; Martin and Mary Jorgensen, and Nicholas Jorgensen.   

•Rock Hills Ranch of Lowry owned and operated by Lyle and Garnet Perman along with their son Luke and his wife Naomi. The Permans raise crops and Angus cattle.

Award applicants are judged based on their demonstration of improved resource conditions, innovation, long-term commitment to stewardship, sustained economic viability, community and civic leadership, and multiple use benefits.

The award is presented by the Sand County Foundation, the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association and the South Dakota Grassland Coalition

"Our South Dakota finalists work to enhance the South Dakota landscape through their commitment to stewardship of natural resources and to sharing what they've learned with the broader community," says Brent Haglund, President of Sand County Foundation.

The 2014 award recipient, who will receive $10,000 and a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold, will be announced in April and recognized at the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association's Annual Convention in December.

"The Leopold Conservation Award is an important tool in helping us celebrate the conservation efforts of South Dakota's private landowners and SDCA is proud to recognize these finalists for making conservation a priority in their family businesses," said Cory Eich, a cow-calf producer and president of the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association.  

"Each year as we honor an outstanding landowner with the Leopold Conservation Award, we're reminded of how dedicated South Dakota agricultural producers are to our natural resources," says Jim Faulstich, chairman, South Dakota Grassland Coalition.

The Leopold Conservation Award in South Dakota is made possible by contributions from many organizations, including: South Dakota Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Discovery Center, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks, South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation, South Dakota Grassland Coalition, South Dakota State University Foundation, American State Bank, Belle Fourche River Watershed Partnership, Daybreak Ranch, Ducks Unlimited, Millborn Seeds, Mortenson Family, Professional Alliance, South Dakota's Conservation Districts, South Dakota Department of Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund Northern Great Plains, DuPont Pioneer, Farm Credit, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and The Mosaic Company.

Source: SD Cattlemen's Association