On September 12, the Sand County Foundation announced the selection of three finalists for the 2024 Pennsylvania Leopold Farm Conservation Award.

The award honors farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.

The finalists are--

-- Troy Firth of Spartansburg in Crawford County: As owner and manager of Firth Maple Products, Troy shows that forestry can be economically profitable and ecologically nurturing.

He’s also the state’s second largest producer of maple syrup and was the founder of the Foundation for Sustainable Forests.

His unconventional approach to selecting timber for harvest fosters healthy trees and abundant bird habitat. To better understand his impact, the National Aviary is conducting a multi-year study of songbird diversity in forests he manages.

-- Jim Hershey of Elizabethtown in Lancaster County: The Hershey family grows 500 acres of corn, soybeans, and wheat, and market 1.7 million chickens and 6000 hogs annually.

For decades they have practiced no-till and grown cover crops to reduce soil erosion, improve water infiltration, and enhance biodiversity. Jim has been an innovator with cover crop interseeding.

The Hershey farm has hosted research trials related to nitrogen efficiency, and the impact of cover crops on soil moisture and temperature, weed control, and yield, with Penn State.

-- Maple Valley Cattle Company of Meyersdale in Somerset County: Mike, Amanda, and Evelyn Butterfield employ rotational grazing practices to enhance pasture productivity and improve soil health.

They utilize cover crops to reduce soil erosion, increase organic matter, and promote biodiversity. They avoid using pesticides and herbicides, opting for integrated pest management strategies to control pests while protecting beneficial insects and wildlife.

The farm’s woodlands, wetlands, and native grasslands are preserved to support biodiversity.

Comments On This Year's Award

“Pennsylvania farmers are making great strides toward protecting our water, soil and land for future generations,” Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “Troy Firth, Jim Hershey and the Butterfield family exemplify not only the diversity of Pennsylvania agriculture and the diverse management practices employed on those farms to conserve and enhance soil and water, but the culture and heritage of stewardship common among our farm families. They are models of how we should all strive toward a sustainable future for our families.”

“Farm Credit is proud to play a role in recognizing these outstanding Pennsylvania producers,” said Tom Truitt, Horizon Farm Credit CEO. “The annual Leopold Conservation Award honors leaders within the agriculture industry who, through their thoughtful investments and conscientious practices, are contributing to the quality of our environment, now and in the future. This year’s finalists are certainly accomplishing that goal. We look forward to the bright futures that lie ahead for their operations and the communities they impact.”

“These three 2024 Leopold Conservation Award finalists all represent the variety of commodities, commitment to sustainability, and culture of innovation that define Pennsylvania agriculture,” said Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Chris Hoffman. “Troy Firth, Jim Hershey, and the Butterfield family all bring passion, dedication, and skill to managing their operations, while inspiring their fellow farmers to build their own conservation legacies. Their examples also show what is possible to the next generation of agricultural professionals – the future producers of food, fuel, and fiber for an ever-expanding global marketplace. Farm Bureau is proud to be a part of recognizing their achievements.”

“These award finalists are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today. Their dedication to conservation shows how individuals can improve the health of the land while producing food and fiber,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO.

“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the Pennsylvania award finalists,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that conservation in agriculture requires a focus on the land, the practices and the people and this award recognizes the integral role of all three.”

Background On Award

Named in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, this award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold called for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states.

In Pennsylvania, the award is presented with The Heinz Endowments, Horizon Farm Credit, and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

The Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award is made possible thanks to the generous support of American Farmland Trust, The Heinz Endowments, Horizon Farm Credit, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Sand County Foundation, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Myers Family Farm, and The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania.

The award will be presented during this winter’s Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

Visit the Sand County Foundation’s Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award webpage for more information.

(Photos: Troy Firth, Crawford County; Jim Hershey, Lancaster County; Butterfield Family, Maple Valley Cattle Company, Somerset County.)

[Posted: September 12, 2024]

9/16/2024