2018 Land Trust of the Year: Waukesha County Land Conservancy
![Waukesha County Land Conservancy logo with a tree and yellow hills.](https://gatheringwaters.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Waukesha-County-Land-Conservancy-Blog-Photo-1024x571.jpg)
Since 1992, the Waukesha County Land Conservancy (WCLC) has demonstrated a commitment to safeguarding Wisconsin’s natural treasures by acquiring and permanently protecting properties with habitat for numerous rare birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants. To date, WCLC has protected nearly 2,900 acres of environmentally significant land.
2018 Rod Nilsestuen Award for Working Lands Preservation: Jimmy VandenBrook
![An older white man in a suit with light blue shirt and tie.](https://gatheringwaters.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Jimmy-Vandenbook-Blog-Photo.png)
During his 35-year career, Jim (Jimmy) VandenBrook continually worked to find solutions to conserve our valuable land and water resources.
2018 Harold “Bud” Jordahl Lifetime Achievement Award: Jan Zimmermann
![An older white woman with blond windswept hair pulled back.](https://gatheringwaters.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Jan-Zimmermann-BLog-Photo-1024x768.jpg)
Jan Zimmermann has been described as an “unsung hero” for her support of land conservation in Wisconsin. She has an impressive legacy of professional accomplishments, from leading complex conservation efforts to developing creative new approaches to projects, securing project revenue, and assisting in the acquisition and protection of properties around the state.
2018 Conservationist of the Year: Pat Caffrey
![An older white man with glasses standing outside.](https://gatheringwaters.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Pat-Caffrey-Blog-Photo-1024x683.jpg)
For more than 40 years, Pat Caffrey has been an integral part of the conservation community in Wisconsin. Pat helped the Mississippi Valley Conservancy (MVC) transform from an all-volunteer organization to an accredited, staffed land trust.