Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, or donated to the Land Conservation Leadership Awards Celebration. This year’s event was a wonderful evening recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of individuals, policy makers, and land trusts who are working to protect the places that make Wisconsin special.
More than 300 people registered, setting an attendance record for the second consecutive year. The Awards Celebration was an excellent evening for Wisconsin’s conservation leaders to come together and celebrate each others’ successes. Our silent auction was another success. Guests were bidding throughout the event. Attendees took home some excellent items and we are grateful for the proceeds.
This was the inaugural year of the Rod Nilsestuen Award for Working Lands Preservation. This award recognizes individuals or organizations that exhibit extraordinary commitment to the preservation of Wisconsin’s working lands and honors Rod Nilsestuen’s legacy as a longtime Wisconsin agriculture, cooperative, and conservation leader. Rod’s sons, Joel and Ryan Nilsestuen, presented the first ever Rod Nilsestuen Awards for Working Lands Preservation to Alan Sweeney and Jim Matson.
Once again, we’d like to congratulate all of our winners.
- Ozaukee Washington Land Trust – Land Trust of the Year
- Kathleen Falk – Policy Maker of the Year
- Alan Sweeney – Rod Nilsestuen Award for Working Lands Preservation
- Jim Matson – Rod Nilsestuen Award for Working Lands Preservation
- Elward Engle – Harold “Bud” Jordahl Lifetime Achievement Award
Thank you to everyone who joined us this year. Please make plans to attend next year’s Awards Celebration on Thursday, September 27, 2012 to honor more deserving recipients.
PS: It’s never too early to nominate someone for next year’s Land Conservation Leadership Awards. Please let us know who you think is doing the most to protect the places that make Wisconsin special.
