Sutter County farmers Brian and Scott Park add an average 10 to 15 tons of biomass per acre to every field, with compost, opposite page on left, being a key source. They grow more than 20 crops, including processing tomatoes, far right.
‘Better than we found it’
Award finalists seek to improve the land under their care
Story by Ching Lee ∞ Photos by Paolo Vescia
Farmers are used to Mother Nature throwing curveballs. Because they work with the land and other natural resources, they understand they must adapt to the unexpected. They also recognize that how they choose to farm and the practices they implement can build resilience, with lasting impacts beyond the current season and the borders of their farm. Each year, the Leopold Conservation Award recognizes farmers and ranchers for their achievements in environmental stewardship. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award celebrates their efforts in managing and improving the land under their care. For this year’s award finalists, doing what’s right for the environment has shown to benefit not just the land and its inhabitants but also their businesses and the bottom line.
The 2023 award went to Park Farming Organics in Sutter County. “We feel like our ground gets better every year, and I think that’s a real important question that every farmer should ask themselves: Is your field in better condition the following year?” Brian Park says. “We want to be able to leave every field and the earth better than we found it.” Bowles Farming Co. in Merced County, owned by the Bowles and Lawrence families, was an award finalist. The Leopold Conservation Award in California is made possible by American Farmland Trust, Sustainable Conservation, California Farm Bureau, Sand County Foundation, The Harvey L. & Maud C. Sorensen Foundation, Farm Credit, The Nature Conservancy in California, McDonald’s and California Leopold Conservation Award recipient alumni.
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January/February 2024
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