Lone Star Land Steward Awards

LONE STAR LAND STEWARD AWARDS

CELEBRATING PRIVATE STEWARDSHIP

The annual Lone Star Land Steward Awards celebrates private landowners whose stewardship of land, water and wildlife help keep Texas’ legendary wideopen spaces ecologically productive and true to their historical roots.

“Across the state, these landowners and countless others like them are working tirelessly behind their fences to conserve and improve their land, water and wildlife—the natural resources that drew people to Texas originally,” said Tim Siegmund, TPWD Private Lands Program leader. “In the process of leaving the land better than they found it, they are providing crucial benefits like clean air, plentiful water, healthy soil and wildlife habitat for their fellow Texans.”

And they are doing it in the face of unparalleled growth and economic pressure to sell and sub-divide property prompting unprecedented fragmentation. At a conversion rate of 640 acres per day, Texas is losing its open working lands faster than any other state in the nation. Each loss puts more pressure on the remaining ecosystems to provide vital lifegiving services making the work of Texas’ private land stewards increasingly important.

“Our award winners are foregoing quick financial returns because they are driven by a sense of responsibility to do what is right for the land,” Siegmund said. “These people have committed to doing hard things that take years of work to see returns on their efforts all because they want to leave the natural systems in their care sustainable and functioning in perpetuity for their families, their communities and their fellow Texans.

“And in a state that is 95 percent privately owned, their contributions and commitment are definitely worth celebrating.” °

To me, the land ethic is to be part of the landscape. Changing that mindset where people want to be part of the land rather than to dominate the land, it just seems like the right thing to do.

—MARK BROWN, THE BROWN RANCH

ABOUT THE LONE STAR LAND STEWARD AWARDS

The Lone Star Land Steward Awards was founded in 1996 by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Funding generated by the awards banquet supports the department’s Private Lands Program helping field staff and partners strategically apply habitat conservation in partnership with landowners.

Each year, the program recognizes outstanding stewards from up to six of the state’s eco-regions as eco-region winners. In addition, special recognition can be given to educators, NGO/corporations or wildlife management associations that have demonstrated exemplary stewardship of land in their care.

The Leopold Conservation Award, sponsored by the Sand County Foundation and the American Farmland Trust, is the program’s preeminent recognition. The award is given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, widely considered the father of wildlife management. To date, the annual winners have been selected from the ever-growing pool of previous eco-region winners, although first-time nominees can be considered.

Awardees in every category must be nominated by TPWD wildlife professionals or other natural resource professionals. The nominated properties are evaluated by a team of TPWD wildlife biologists and members of the department’s Private Lands Program using an established set of statewide criteria.

THIS YEAR’S LONE STAR LAND STEWARD AWARD WINNERS ARE

• The Leopold Conservation Award

The Brown Ranch, Mark and Cheryl Brown

Fayette County | Ammannsville, Texas

• Blackland Prairie

Kocurek Farm, Gary and Dianna Kocurek

Colorado County | Weimar, Texas

• Crosstimbers

Quahadi Ranch, Stephen B. Smith

Erath County | Dublin, Texas

• Edwards Plateau

Zesch Family Ranch, Hal and Amy Zesch

Mason County | Mason, Texas

• Post Oak Savannah

Prairie Rose Ranch, Ronald Gard

Hopkins County | Miller Grove, Texas

• Rolling Plains

Melton Ranch, Paul Melton

Fisher County | Roby, Texas

• Special Recognition

Cibolo Nature Center for Conservation

Kendall County | Boerne, Texas

To see the winners’ stewardship firsthand, check out TPWD’s Lone Star Land Steward Channel on YouTube. You’ll find inspiring short films showcasing this year’s recipients as well as previous honorees.