Charles City’s Wendy Johnson among finalists for Iowa Leopold Conservation Award

To The Press

Four finalists have been selected for the 2024 Iowa Leopold Conservation Award, including farmer and entrepreneur Wendy Johnson of Charles City.

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, according to information from the Sand County Foundation.

Wendy Mariko Johnson farms with her family at two farms. She utilizes prairie strips, cover cropping and no-till practices on corn and soybeans at the 1,000-acre Center View Farms.

At the 130-acre Joia Food and Fiber Farm she transitioned corn fields into perennial pastures for rotational grazing of sheep and cattle. She has planted more than 6,000 fruit, nut and hardwood trees, and incorporates silvopasture.

Riparian areas have been restored, and stream banks stabilized for cleaner water. Mowing is delayed to encourage nesting by grassland birds. Crops of kernza are grazed and harvested for grain each year.

Named in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the conservation 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 Iowa, the $10,000 award is presented with state partners Conservation Districts of Iowa and Practical Farmers of Iowa.

The other three finalists are:

• James Hepp of Rockwell City in Calhoun County.

First-generation farmer Hepp entered into his first crop share agreement on 160 acres in 2020. Today, Hepp Farms consists of nearly 1,400 acres of corn and soybeans.

Cover crops of oats and rye are grown to build soil health, suppress weeds and reduce the need for herbicides. Soil and sap testing throughout the growing season helps fine-tune his management of nutrients.

No-till and strip-till practices, relay cropping and buffer strips help reduce erosion and improve water quality. Hepp serves as an assistant commissioner on the Calhoun County Soil and Water Conservation District.

• Bob and Robby Jewell of Decorah in Winneshiek County.

Bob and Robby Jewell prioritize conservation at their 1,600-acre Jewell Enterprises. Beef cattle are rotationally grazed using a mob grazing system that encourages regrowth of native grasses.

To build cropland’s organic matter, the herd is grazed on cover crops. The Jewells also raise organic turkeys and pastured pork.

Intermixed with fields of corn, soybeans, alfalfa and cereal grains, the Jewells manage 95 acres of wetlands and 611 acres of timber. Protecting these highly erodible areas protects water quality while providing large, interconnected corridors of wildlife habitat.

• Landon and Anne Plagge of Latimer in Franklin County.

The Plagges grow corn, soybeans, oats and raise hogs.

With no-till practices and growing cover crops of radish, turnips and cereal rye, they are improving their soil’s organic matter and its ability to infiltrate and retain moisture, which helps sequester carbon, and boost crop yields without increasing inputs.

In 2020 they started Green Acres Seed Co. a cover crop and agriculture service specializing in soil health consulting and cover crop transition planning and seeding. They advocate for increasing diversity in crop rotations and rural community preservation.

Iowa landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the Leopold Conservation Award. An independent panel of Iowa agricultural and conservation leaders reviewed the applications.

The award recipient will be recognized at The Big Soil Health Event this fall. Last year’s recipient of the award was Loran Steinlage of West Union.

The Leopold Conservation Award in Iowa is made possible through the support of American Farmland Trust, Conservation Districts of Iowa, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Sand County Foundation, Soil Regen, Farm Credit Services of America, Nancy and Marc DeLong, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, Iowa Corn, Iowa Farmers Union, Leopold Landscape Alliance and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

“The contenders for the Iowa Leopold Conservation Award are an impressive example of farmers who are simultaneously prioritizing conservation and profit on a working farm,” said Sally Worley, Practical Farmers of Iowa executive director. “Iowa is a better place as a result of their commitment to conservation.”

“A native Iowan, Aldo Leopold has inspired generations of other Iowans to preserve and care for our precious natural resources through conservation,” said Dien Judge, Conservation Districts of Iowa executive director.

“The work that he did throughout his life has been used as a guide by so many conservationists in Iowa, and now that work carries on into the future,” Judge said.

“These award finalists 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 shows how individuals can improve the health of the land while producing food and fiber.”

John Piotti, AFT president and CEO, said, “As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the Iowa award finalists.

“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,” Piotti said.