Two finalists have been selected for the 2022 California Leopold Conservation Award.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes those who inspire others with their dedication to the land, water and wildlife resources in their care.
In California, Sand County Foundation presents the award with American Farmland Trust and state partners Sustainable Conservation and the California Farm Bureau Federation.
The finalists are:
• Beretta Family Organic Dairy of Sonoma County. Since the 1960s, the Berettas have implemented conservation practices that focus on improving soil health and water quality, reducing groundwater usage, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the federally recognized endangered species in the Laguna de Santa Rosa watershed.
They recycle their dairy’s wastewater and have used the city of Santa Rosa’s reclaimed wastewater for irrigation since 1981. Pastures are managed with grazing practices that reduce fire fuels and provide birds and wildlife with habitat.
• Sardella Ranch of Tuolumne County. Sardella Ranch was Tuolumne County’s first property to be placed in a conservation easement. For decades, Mike and Julie Sardella have rotationally and seasonally grazed beef cattle to prevent erosion and sustain natural regrowth of their grasslands.
Wildlife habitat and water quality have benefited from the Sardellas’ efforts to enhance the riparian habitat along a tributary of the Tuolumne River that runs through the ranch. Now retired from cattle ranching, Mike serves on the Tuolumne County Resource Conservation District board.
The Leopold Conservation Award will be presented during the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting in December. The award recipient will receive $10,000 and a crystal award.
“When it comes to protecting California’s natural resources, landowners are critical because they can implement on-the-ground environmental solutions,” said Ashley Boren, executive director of Sustainable Conservation, which has co-sponsored the award since its launch in California more than a decade ago. “The Sardellas and the Berettas work steadily and creatively to center their conservation ethos in their farming practices. We’re honored to recognize each family’s dedication to exceptional stewardship, and each are deserving of the award.”
Earlier this year, farmers, ranchers and foresters were encouraged to apply (or be nominated) for the award. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural, forestry, wildlife, academic and other conservation leaders.
The first California Leopold Conservation Award recipient, LangeTwins Wine Estates of Lodi, was selected in 2006. Marie and Glenn Nader’s Witcher Creek Ranch in Modoc County received the award in 2021.
The Leopold Conservation Award in California is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Sustainable Conservation, California Farm Bureau Federation, Sand County Foundation, the Harvey L. & Maud C. Sorensen Foundation, Farm Credit, The Nature Conservancy in California, McDonald’s and California Leopold Conservation Award alums. — Sand County Foundation
