Two PA farmers vie for Leopold conservation award

By Blake Jackson

Two Pennsylvania farmers are vying for the 2023 Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award. The award is presented to landowners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land.

The finalists are:

• Troy Firth, owner and manager of Firth Maple Products in Spartansburg, Crawford County. Firth shows that forestry can be economically profitable and ecologically nurturing. He is the state's second-largest producer of maple syrup and the founder of the Foundation for Sustainable Forests. His unconventional approach to selecting timber for harvest fosters healthy trees and abundant bird habitat.

• Joel Myers, owner of Myers Family Farm in Spring Mills, Centre County. Myers uses a variety of conservation practices to prevent soil erosion on his corn, soybean, and alfalfa fields. He uses a no-till and crop rotation system, as well as cover crops of tillage radish, ryegrass, and hairy vetch. He has also planted trees and improved stream banks on 75 acres of his land to enhance wildlife, bird, and fish habitat. Myers regularly shares his expertise in agronomy, farming, and conservation through field days and workshops.

The award will be presented during this winter's Pennsylvania Farm Show. The winner will receive a $10,000 prize and a crystal plaque.

The Leopold Conservation Award is given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, who called for "a land ethic," an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage. The award is presented to private landowners in 27 states by the Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust. In Pennsylvania, the award is presented with The Heinz Endowments, Horizon Farm Credit, and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

The Leopold Conservation Award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement. The finalists for the 2023 award are both exemplars of Leopold's land ethic, and their work is helping to protect and improve Pennsylvania's natural resources.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-casarsaguru