Finalists Selected for Colorado Leopold Conservation Award
April 6, 2026
Two finalists have been selected for the 2026 Colorado Leopold Conservation Award®.
The 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.
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 advocated 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 Colorado, the award is presented with Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service of Colorado.
Both finalists are cattle ranch families committed to being excellent stewards of the land, focusing on sound environmental practices that optimize grazing systems and wildlife habitats. The finalists are:
Eagle Rock Ranch of Jefferson in Park County: The Gottenborg family has transformed a degraded landscape into a thriving working ranch and inspired other landowners by spearheading Colorado’s first voluntary private lands elk migration agreement and mobilizing neighboring landowners to join in coordinated, landscape scale conservation efforts. Dave and Jeannie Gottenborg, and their daughter Erin Michalski, have eliminated the use of pesticides and insecticides on their beef cattle to improve dung beetle habitat and soil health.
X7 Ranch of Merino in Logan and Washington counties. With more than 95 percent of X7 Ranch under conservation easement, the Hettinger family has taken the novel approach of protecting both the land and its senior water rights to ensure it remains productive irrigated agriculture in perpetuity. Jake, Howard, and Mike Hettinger demonstrate how conservation and working lands can succeed across generations. Crop varieties are selected based on their water-use efficiency, and winter grazing of corn stalks reduces the need for purchased feed.
Colorado landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. An independent panel of Colorado agricultural and conservation leaders reviewed the applications. The award will be presented at the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association’s Annual Convention in June.
ACCOLADES
“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 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.”
“Colorado’s ranching and farming families take pride in producing food to support a growing society, while their impact extends well beyond their operations, strengthening local communities and providing environmental benefits,” said Curt Russell, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) President. “CCA applauds the Leopold Conservation Award finalists and applicants for their commitment to outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements on working lands.”
“We are honored to recognize and celebrate these ranching families whose voluntary conservation efforts highlight the powerful role of private land stewardship across Colorado,” said Erik L. Glenn, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust CEO. “Their commitment to the land reflects a thoughtful balance of generational knowledge and forward-thinking partnerships, strengthening both agricultural resilience and ecological vitality.”
“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the award recipients,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that exemplary conservation involves the land itself, the practices employed on the land, and the people who steward it. This award recognizes the integral role of all three.”
Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award in Colorado is made possible thanks to the generous contributions from American Farmland Trust, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, American AgCredit, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, CKP Insurance, CoBank, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Farm Credit of Southern Colorado, Premier Farm Credit, Stanko Ranch, The Nature Conservancy, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Fish & Wildlife.
Wagon Wheel Ranch of Yuma received the award in 2025. To learn more about previous recipients, visit https://www.sandcountyfoundation.org/colorado.
Source: CCA
