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Finalists Selected for Maryland Leopold Conservation Award

Finalists Selected for Maryland Leopold Conservation Award

DAVIDSONVILLE, MD. (October 13, 2022) — Three finalists have been selected for the 2022 Maryland Leopold Conservation Award®. 

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat management on private, working lands. 
 
In Maryland, the Leopold Conservation Award is presented by Sand County Foundation with state partners Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment, Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, and Maryland Farm Bureau Inc. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award in 24 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation.
 
The finalists are:
  • Long Green Farms Inc. of Rising Sun in Cecil County: Caleb and Alice Crothers operate one of Maryland’s oldest dairy farms. They have planted about 60,000 trees as part of a major streambank restoration project. Cover crops are grown to prevent erosion and build soil health. A new heifer housing facility diverts clean rainwater and has a manure storage system to protect water quality.
  • Mount Pleasant Acres Farms of Preston in Caroline County: Donna Dear and Paulette Green’s farm contains 111 acres of row crops, fruits and vegetables, forests, and wetlands. The farm’s a showcase of forestry management, organic food production, and Black history, as it was a stop along the Underground Railroad. A food forest is providing a habitat for insect pollinators, songbirds and game birds.  
  • Persimmon Tree Farm of Westminster in Carroll County: At Carolyn Krome’s horse farm, pastures are managed to avoid erosion and over-grazing. Warm season grasses are kept vibrant with prescribed burns. Restored wetlands and streambanks provide wildlife habitat. Five acres of wildflowers are regularly weeded and maintained to attract insect pollinators.

Earlier this year, Maryland landowners were encouraged to apply (or be nominated) for the award. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders. The award recipient will be recognized at the Maryland Farm Bureau Annual Convention later this year. 
 
The recipient receives a $10,000 award, and the conservation success found on their farm, ranch or forest will be featured in a professional video.
 
Last year’s inaugural recipient of the award was the Warring family’s Persistence Creek Farm of Faulkner in Charles County. 
 
“It takes immense determination and hard work to implement thoughtful practices for the betterment of land and the environment. We truly appreciate the dedication to innovation and we’re proud to be one of the supporting organizations for this award. Congratulations to all the finalists and thank you for your taking on what can feel like a thankless job,” said Samantha Campbell, Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment President.
 
“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 Maryland 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.”
 
The Leopold Conservation Award is given to farmers, ranchers and forestland owners across the U.S. in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.
 
The Maryland Leopold Conservation Award is made possible through the generous support of American Farmland Trust, Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment, Maryland Farm Bureau Inc., Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, Sand County Foundation, Maryland Department of Agriculture, MidAtlantic Farm Credit, Delmarva Chicken Association, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Conservancy, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, ShoreRivers, and The Nature Conservancy.   
 
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LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD PROGRAM
The Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. Sand County Foundation presents the award in California, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont). www.leopoldconservationaward.org
 
THE KEITH CAMPBELL FOUNDATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment’s mission in the Chesapeake Bay Region is to improve water quality and ecological balance in the Bay and its rivers, as a healthy bay fosters a vibrant regional economy and provides exceptional recreational opportunities and a better quality of life. The Foundation provides approximately $7 million in funding through more than 150 grants annually, and has been funding in the region since 1998. www.campbellfoundation.org
 
MARYLAND FARM BUREAU®, INC. is a 501(c)(5) federation that serves as the united voice of Maryland farm families. Our organizational strength comes from the active participation of over 12,000 individual and family members who belong to the state’s 23 local county Farm Bureau organizations. Since 1915, Maryland Farm Bureau has been committed to protecting and growing agriculture and preserving rural life. Maryland Farm Bureau is a proud member of the American Farm Bureau® Federation. www.mdfarmbureau.com
 
MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICTS serves as the voice of Maryland’s 24 soil and water conservation districts on state legislative issues. It also provides a forum for training, policy-making and the exchange of information at their annual and quarterly gatherings. Its mission is to promote practical and effective soil, water, and related natural resources programs to all citizens through individual conservation districts on a voluntary bases through leadership, education, cooperation and local direction.  
 
SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION  
Sand County Foundation inspires and empowers a growing number of private landowners to ethically manage natural resources in their care, so future generations have clean and abundant water, healthy soil to support agriculture and forestry, plentiful habitat for wildlife and opportunities for outdoor recreation. www.sandcountyfoundation.org
 
AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST  
American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through its No Farms, No Food message. Since its founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.5 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally sound farming practices on millions of additional acres, and supported thousands of farm families. www.farmland.org
 

58 fire departments nationwide win life-saving grain rescue equipment

58 fire departments nationwide win life-saving grain rescue equipment
Nationwide’s Grain Bin Safety campaign has awarded 265 rescue tubes across 31 states to first responders in need since 2014

Des Moines, IA. (June 21, 2022) — Grain bin accidents send shockwaves through rural communities as farmers and grain handlers know all too well how quickly entering a grain bin can turn deadly. To help prevent these accidents that result in dozens of lives lost each year, Nationwide is providing lifesaving resources to rural America’s first responders.

In partnership with the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), Nationwide is awarding 58 fire departments across the country with grain rescue tubes and hands-on training to prepare them to respond when local grain entrapments occur.

After receiving more than 1,800 nominations across 45 states in the annual Nominate Your Fire Department Contest, a key piece of Nationwide’s Grain Bin Safety advocacy campaign, the insurer and its partners are proud to award grain rescue tubes and training to the following 58 fire departments:

  1. Allegany County Special Operations, Cumberland, MD
  2. Argusville Fire Department, Argusville, ND
  3. Ashley Fire Department, Ashley, IN
  4. Ashley Fire Protection District, Ashley, IL
  5. Atalissa Volunteer Fire Department, Atalissa, IA
  6. Baring Volunteer Fire Department, Baring, MO
  7. Bel Alton Volunteer Fire Department and EMS Co 10, Bel Alton, MD
  8. Bennet Rural Fire District, Bennet, NE
  9. Brandon Fire Department, Brandon, IA
  10. Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association, Westminster, MD
  11. Central Ohio Joint Fire District, Centerburg, OH
  12. Clayton Fire Company, Clayton, DE
  13. Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company, Clear Spring, MD
  14. Cordova Fire Protection District, Cordova, IL
  15. Covington Fire & Rescue, Inc., Covington, OH
  16. Jefferson County Department of Emergency Services, Brookville, PA
  17. Dwight Rural Fire Department 6, Dwight, KS
  18. Elderton District Volunteer Fire Company, Elderton, PA
  19. Fleetwood Volunteer Fire Company, Fleetwood, PA
  20. Genoa Fire Department, Genoa, NY
  21. Georgetown Fire Company, Inc. Station 77, Georgetown, DE
  22. Hamlet Fire Department, Hamlet, IN
  23. Hebron Volunteer Fire Department, Hebron, MD
  24. Highland Pierron Fire Department, Pocahontas, IL
  25. Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, Hillsboro, IA
  26. Huntingburg Fire Department, Huntingburg, IN
  27. Illiopolis Fire Protection District, Illiopolis, IL
  28. Jefferson Township Fire and Rescue, Richmond Dale, OH
  29. Kenockee Township Fire Department, Avoca, MI
  30. Kinmundy-Alma Fire Department, Kinmundy, IL
  31. Lake Andes Volunteer Fire Department, Lake Andes, SD
  32. Lawrence Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Service, Lawrence, NE
  33. Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, Leonardtown, MD
  34. Mabel Fire and Rescue, Mabel, MN
  35. Maeystown Fire Department, Maeystown, IL
  36. Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire District, Mechanicsville, MD
  37. Milo Rural Fire Department, Milo, MO
  38. Oakley Fire Department, Oakley, KS
  39. Ohiowa Rural Fire Department, Ohiowa, NE
  40. Ottawa County Rural Fire District #4, Bennington, KS
  41. Pleasant Unity Volunteer Fire Department, Pleasant Unity, PA
  42. Preston Volunteer Fire Company, Preston, MD
  43. Ripley Township Volunteer Fire Department, Alamo, IN
  44. Rome Fire Department, Rome, OH
  45. Saint Paul Mission Township Fire Department, Saint Paul, KS
  46. Scott Township Fire and EMS, Evansville, IN
  47. Seaford Volunteer Fire Department, Seaford, DE
  48. Silvercreek Township Fire Department, Jamestown, OH
  49. Spring Valley Fire Department, Spring Valley, WI
  50. Upham Fire Protection District, Upham, ND
  51. Watertown Township Fire Department, Mayville, MI
  52. Waubay Volunteer Fire Department, Waubay, SD
  53. West Kittanning Fire Department, Kittanning, PA
  54. West Plains Fire Department, West Plains, MO
  55. Westport Community Volunteer Fire Department, Westport, IN
  56. Williamsburg Volunteer Fire Company, Williamsburg, PA
  57. Windsor Fire Department, Windsor, OH
  58. Wood Lake Fire Department, Wood Lake, MN
  59. Audubon Fire Department (re-training only), Audubon, IA
  60. Guthrie Center Fire Department (re-training only), Guthrie Center, IA
  61. Hutchinson Fire Department (re-training only), Hutchinson, MN
  62. Johnston Grimes Metropolitan Fire Department (re-training only), Johnston, IA
  63. Superior Ambulance Service & Training Institute (re-training only), Grove City, PA
  64. Traer Fire Department (re-training only), Traer, IA


“We are proud to provide first responders the education and resources to lead the fight against local grain bin entrapments,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “It’s been our mission to bring an end to this industry issue by raising awareness of the dangers and suppling needed equipment to the front line rescuers tasked with responding when accidents occur.”

NECAS, based out of Peosta, IA, will deliver the rescue tubes and training to the winning fire departments throughout 2022, traveling to each location with state-of-the-art grain entrapment simulators and rescue tubes. The comprehensive training sessions include classroom education and rescue simulations using the entrapment tools, which are loaded onto 20-foot trailers and able to hold about 100 bushels of grain each.

With 2022 donations included, Nationwide and partners have supplied these resources to 265 departments across 31 states. At least five fire departments have utilized their rescue tubes and training to successfully rescue entrapped workers.

“It’s as important as ever to be following proper safety precautions when entering a bin,” said Liggett. “Our goal is to continue these efforts until we can ensure every rural fire department has access to these critical rescue resources.”

Nationwide is continuing to work with partners throughout 2022 to provide additional grain rescue tubes and training sessions to fire departments in need. To learn how to get involved and sponsor a rescue tube for your local fire department, visit the Partner With Us webpage.

“Thank you to our generous partners who have supported this cause to put an end to avoidable deaths in rural agricultural communities nationwide,” said Liggett.

The program is supported by Nationwide and the following generous partners:  

  1. KC Supply, NECAS, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Maryland Grain Producers, Lutz Agency, Inc., Specialty Risk Insurance, CHS, Delaware Soybean Board, ProValue Insurance LLC, Mid Atlantic Farm Credit, Scoular Grain, Turtle Plastics, Mark Bruns Agency, Ashtabula County Farm Bureau, TGIF Solutions, Inc., Armstrong County Farm Bureau, Maryland Soybean Board, West Side Salvage, GROWMARK, AGI SureTrack, Gregerson Salvage, Inc., Maryland Farm Bureau, Ohio Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, New York Farm Bureau, Delaware Farm Bureau, Kelly Jones Insurance Agency, LLC, Rugby Insurance Agency, Gerber Insurance Agency, Wiley Insurance Agency, Valley Insurance Agency Alliance, Jefferson County Farm Bureau, Panichelle Insurance, Colonial Farm Credit, Charles County Farm Bureau, St. Mary’s County Farm Bureau, Gallagher, Heritage Insurance & Real Estate, ABIS/Assured Partners, Ag Choice Farm Credit, D. Larson Financial & Insurance Services, Pillar Insurance, Sump Saver, NOHR Wortmann Engineering, IRMI, and Traer Fire Department.

About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side, the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2022

1 Source: A.M. Best Market Share Report 2021

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