Levi and Crystal Neuharth make farming decisions based on the five principles of soil health:
Keep the soil covered.
Keep living roots growing as much as possible.
Include diversity in plant communities.
Integrate livestock.
Levi is a founding member and current chairman of the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, and the couple took over management of Prairie Paradise Farms, near Fort Pierre, S.D., in 2016.
This commitment to soil health has earned Prairie Paradise Farms the South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award. This was announced on Earth Day by Gov. Kristi Noem and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Nominations and applications are now being accepted for the 2021 South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award
®. The $10,000 award honors ranchers, farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.
Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 21 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In South Dakota, the award is presented with the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association and the South Dakota Grassland Coalition. The 2020 recipient of the award was Blair Brothers Angus Ranch of Sturgis.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relat