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Generations on the Land: Working for Land Stewardship
"Husbandry watches no clock, knows no season of cessation, and for the most part is paid for in love not dollars. Husbandry of somebody else's land is a contradiction in terms. Husbandry is the heart of conservation."
- Aldo Leopold, 1942
 Sustainability has become synonymous with good land stewardship. Often, sustainability is referred to in the context of ecological resilience alone. But, more broadly, it is comprised of five elements: ecological, economic, social, cultural, and aesthetic. Sand County Foundation has presented its Leopold Conservation Award annually since 2003 to private landowners who exemplify land stewardship and who are leaders in their communities. Initially presented in Texas and Colorado, these awards are now also made in several other states. The award recipients are resilient, resourceful, and innovative managers who are remarkably in tune with their land, which provides high quality habitats. Together, they represent some of the best, brightest, and most conservation oriented landowners in the country. They think about sustainability in terms of passing their land in good condition to the next generation of their families. Their stories are insightful and inspiring.
In partnership with the Department of Ecosystem Science & Management at Texas A&M University, Sand County Foundation will bring these landowners together on October 24, 2008 to tell their stories in the first of a series of landowner symposia. The one day symposium will be attended by 50 to 80 landowners and agency personnel and will be open to up to 150 students.
Students from the Texas A&M University system are invited to participate in an essay competition focusing on the five elements of sustainability. The best essay in each of the five categories will be selected for presentation during the symposium. Each winner will receive a $1000 scholarship. In addition, 10 students will be selected to visit one of the participating Leopold Conservation Awardees. These students will help the landowners prepare their presentations for the symposium.
STUDENT PARTICIPATION
The symposium will provide three opportunities for student participation.
- Attendance: Any student from the Texas A&M University System is welcome to register for the one day symposium. Attending the symposium will provide the opportunity to hear from and interact with some of the most innovative and brightest private land managers in the United States. Participating students will also be able to network with prospective employers in the private and public sector.
- Essay Competition for $1000 Scholarship: Any junior or senior undergraduate student or any graduate student from the Texas A&M University System may compete. To do so, students must select one of the five elements of sustainability (ecological, economic, social, cultural, and aesthetic) as the focus of their essay. First, they write a 300-word abstract describing the content and structure of their proposed paper. Abstracts must be submitted by April 15, 2008 via e-mail to urs@tamu.edu (subject - Symposium Essay Competition). Abstracts will be reviewed by a 5-member panel who will select five abstracts in each category (total of 25). The authors of these abstracts will be invited to prepare a 2000 word paper on their topic by August 31, 2008. The review panel will select the five best papers for a 10 minute presentation during the symposium. Each winner will receive a $1000 scholarship.
- Visit to Leopold Conservation Award Winners: Students in the Ecosystem Science and Management Department can also apply for an all expenses paid visit to the properties of one of the 10 Leopold Conservation Award winners. Interested students must submit a letter of application to Urs Kreuter by April 15, 2008 (subject - Leopold Landowner Visit). The letter must indicate how the experience will benefit the applicant and how they are qualified to help the landowner prepare a PowerPoint slideshow for their presentation at the symposium. All applicants are expected to register for the symposium.
 Symposium Sponsors
Program Schedule
Click above for the Generations on the Land: Working for Land Stewardship symposium schedule (PDF). Please note that the schedule is subject to change.
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