Dan and Sharon Anderson’s Darling Creek Ranch has been selected as the 2026 South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award recipient.
The $10,000 award honors ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land.
Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In South Dakota, the award is presented with the South Dakota Grassland Coalition and South Dakota Soil Health Coalition.
The Dan and Sharon Anderson family owns and operates Darling Creek Ranch, located near Meadow in Perkins County. They will be formally presented with the South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award later this year.
The Andersons are cattle and sheep ranchers who showcase the regenerative ability of rangelands and native grasses to improve soil health, water and air quality, and wildlife habitat while also profitably raising livestock.
“Conservation has always been on the forefront of how we manage our rangeland and our resources,” Dan Anderson said.
Conservation is a family legacy for the Andersons. While ranching and grazing practices continue to evolve, a passion for the land they steward has burned strong for generations. Dan’s father, Jim, served on the Perkins County Soil Conservation Board for 48 years.
Building organic matter in the soil, building litter as armor on the surface, and retaining soil moisture are all measurements for the Andersons’ conservation practices. They rotationally graze beef cattle and sheep to pursue these improvements while also helping native grass populations reestablish their deep root systems.
“My dad improved the ground from when he bought it, we have improved the ground since we took over from him, and we hope the next generation improves it even more,” said Anderson, who is a lifelong member of the Grand River Cooperative Grazing Association.
The Andersons’ daughters, Danci, Danika, Dantae and Danessa, are all involved in the ranch’s operation.
“These award recipients are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation president and CEO. “Their dedication to conservation is both an inspiration to their peers as well as a reminder to all how important thoughtful agriculture is to clean water, healthy soil, and wildlife habitat.” — Sand County Foundation
