Farmers and ranchers earn recognition for environmental stewardship Story by Tracy Sellers • Photos by Paolo Vescia
From restoring wetlands to generating renewable energy and embracing biodiversity, farmers and ranchers across the state work to make the land better not only for today, but for future generations. And each year, the Leopold Conservation Award celebrates the important role these landowners play. Given in honor of distinguished conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes agriculturists who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. The 2020 award was presented to Burroughs Family Farms of Stanislaus County. “We’re always open to learning,” Ward Burroughs said. “When it comes to sustainability, that’s when our real passion for learning comes out.” Stemple Creek Ranch of Marin County and Philip Verwey Farms of Kings County were also finalists. In California, the award is presented by the Sand County Foundation, American Farmland Trust, California Farm Bureau Federation and Sustainable Conservation. Additional sponsors are Farm Credit, The Harvey L. & Maud C. Sorensen Foundation, The Nature Conservancy in California, McDonald’s and California Leopold Conservation Award recipient alumni. Balancing economic viabilitywith environmental sustainability Being resilient, pursuing innovation and pushing the boundaries of conventional thinking have become the keys to success at Burroughs Family Farms. “Our passion comes out in making the tough decisions and thinking outside the box,” Ward Burroughs said. For four generations, the Burroughs family has served as a model for environmental sustainability and economic viability on their 2,600-acre farm near Denair. Partnering with their children, Ward and Rose Burroughs own and operate California Cloverleaf Farms, Vista Almonds, B and B Pastures and Full Circle Dairy, and produce products including free-range eggs, organic milk, cheese, almonds and olives. The Burroughs family has transitioned all of their operations to meet certified organic standards. In addition, rotational grazing of cattle and chickens in their orchards has reduced the need for mowing or burning—just one example of the holistic approach the family takes to farming. Family members have worked throughout the years with a biologist who has helped them catalog the many native plants growing on their property. Through this work, they have found their grazing practices to be beneficial to those species, encouraging the family to continue their sustainable practices and share information about them with others. Burroughs Family Farms has hosted hundreds of educational tours for visitors interested in their ranching and conservation efforts. The Burroughs family has also hosted a variety of research projects, including one on the benefits of reincorporating almond hulls back into orchards after processing for improved soil fertility. In addition, they irrigate crops and pasture with solar-powered well pumps, and their orchards have diverse cover crops and hedgerows to capture carbon and attract the good bugs that prey on the bad bugs. “It’s all about living systems,” Rose Burroughs said. “It’s about nurturing, protecting and preserving our most precious resources.”
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