Josh and Gwen Hoy’s Flying W Ranch of Cedar Point has been selected as the recipient of the 2020 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes those who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife resources in their care. The Hoys were recently presented with $10,000 and a crystal award at a special ceremony at their ranch.

In Kansas, the award is presented annually by the Sand County Foundation, American Farmland Trust, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts and the Ranchland Trust of Kansas. 

Unconventional ranching on protected prairie is how Josh and Gwen Hoy describe what they do on Flying W Ranch, a bison and beef cattle ranch on the tallgrass prairie of the Kansas Flint Hills.

Exemplary practices

“The Hoy family epitomize the land ethic that Aldo Leopold wrote about. Their public outreach ensures their conservation success stretches far beyond their property line,” says Dan Meyerhoff, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts executive director.

“Congratulations to the Hoy family. Their dedication to conservation can be seen by their ranch stewardship practices. They also have been great advocates for the cause, sharing the story of ranchland conservation with the public,” says Chelsea Good, Ranchland Trust of Kansas vice chairman.

“Recipients of this award are real-life examples of conservation-minded agriculture,” says Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation president and CEO. “These hardworking families are essential to our environment, food system and rural economy.”

“We are pleased to present this award to Josh and Gwen Hoy for their outstanding application of innovative grazing practices along with their dedication to the land, soil and livestock they steward,” says John Piotti, American Farmland Trust president and CEO. “At AFT, we believe that conservation in agriculture requires a focus on the land, the practices and the people. The Leopold conservation award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

Earlier this year, Kansas landowners were encouraged to apply (or be nominated) for the award. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders. Among the many outstanding Kansas landowners nominated for the award were finalists Vance and Louise Ehmke of Healy in Lane County, and Dwane Roth of Manhattan in Riley County.

In 2015 the first Kansas Leopold Conservation Award was presented to Sproul Ranch of Sedan. Last year’s recipient was Ted Alexander of Sun City.

The Leopold Conservation Award in Kansas is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust; the Sand County Foundation; the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts; Ranchland Trust of Kansas; Evergy; Farm Credit Associations of Kansas; ITC Great Plains; Kansas Department of Agriculture (Division of Conservation); the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism; the Kansas Forest Service, McDonald’s Corp.; The Nature Conservancy; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; and a Kansas Leopold Conservation Award recipient.

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 Sand County Foundation presents the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 20 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. For more information, visit leopoldconservationaward.org.

The Flying W and the Hoy family

The Hoys’ peers call them visionaries for how they ranch in sync with nature, thanks to innovative conservation practices.

Josh and Gwen brought their own deep agricultural roots to create a productive and sustainable business on 7,000 acres. The Hoys take pleasure in understanding how livestock and wildlife can flourish while improving soil health and water quality. They are passing their intense awareness and appreciation of the land to their daughter, Josie.

After removing miles of fence within their ranch, they adopted an “instinctive migratory” grazing method for their livestock. It brings grass and forbs back to damaged areas, and protects riparian areas. In addition to grazing techniques, they control woody and invasive plants by patch burning and mechanical removal instead of herbicides.

An Audubon Certified Bird Friendly ranch label may soon appear on the Hoys’ beef to inform consumers that grazing practices were used that promote grassland stewardship.

With conservation easements on all of the land they own or manage, the Hoys’ impact extends beyond their ranch gate. Collaboration with neighbors has put 4,000 contiguous acres of formerly farmed ground in the Coyne Creek watershed back into native prairie or managed pasture.

Their advocacy has included holding unique events at the ranch. To promote the ecological benefits of controlled burns, they’ve hosted a meal, live music and wagon rides before guests watch an evening prairie burn. The Kansas City Symphony has performed on the Flying W Ranch at sundown to heighten appreciation of the tallgrass prairie.

Welcoming guests to the ranch is nothing new for the Hoys. For years, they’ve welcomed guests to experience cowboy culture at the ranch. An authentic 1880s chuck wagon and a professional kitchen offer guests everything from rustic fare to gourmet dining. This “guest ranching” agritourism business has allowed the Hoys to reduce debt, acquire land, educate the public and invest in conservation. With the COVID-19 public health crisis forcing them to stop hosting guests, they’ll refocus their efforts with more marketing of their sustainably raised, grass-fed beef.

Resilience is ranch’s real story

Josh founded the ranch with his cousin Warren Kruse in 1996. Tragedy struck in 2004, when Warren and his mother (Josh’s aunt) were killed in a plane crash. Hardship followed, as the unexpected loss set many of the projects back that they had been working on. The conservation easements that were placed on the property are the result of many years of effort, and a testament to Warren’s legacy and vision.

Late last year, a wildfire spurred by high winds burned the Hoys’ home and business records. Starting over after such a loss once again felt daunting. However, they have persevered and are using conservation principles while building their new house.

Just as the tallgrass prairie has the natural resiliency to come back after a controlled burn, it’s clear that whatever comes their way, this family is committed to living its conservation ethic.

Source: The Sand County Foundation, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.