North Dakota Leopold Conservation Award®

The Leopold Conservation Award recognizes agricultural landowners who are committed to excellence and conservation. Recipients receive $10,000 and a crystal award.

Leopold Award nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. Nominations are reviewed by an independent panel of state agricultural and conservation leaders.

Congratulations to the John Lee & Ellen Njos Family, recipients of the 2026 North Dakota Leopold Conservation Award!


​Previous winners (click to view their video):

Program Partners

  • Sand County Foundation
  • American Farmland Trust
  • ND Association of Soil Conservation Districts
  • ND Grazing Lands Coalition
  • ND Stockmen's Association

Program Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

  • Starion Bank
  • ND Game & Fish Department

Silver Sponsors

  • APEX Clean Energy
  • Audubon Great Plains
  • Basin Electric Power Cooperative
  • Burleigh County Soil Conservation District
  • Cass County Soil Conservation District
  • Cow Chip Ranch
  • Delta Waterfowl
  • Ducks Unlimited
  • Emmons County Soil Conservation District
  • KEM Electric Cooperative
  • Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative
  • ND Department of Environmental Quality
  • ND Natural Resources Trust
  • Pheasants Forever
  • Roughrider Electric Cooperative
  • Slope Electric Cooperative
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • The Wildlife Society of North Dakota 
  • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service