On September 14, 2022

Hartland’s Cedar Mountain Farm in the running for conservation award

By Curt Peterson

Kerry Gawalt and Stephen Leslie, who operate Cedar Mountain Farm in Hartland, are Northeast Region finalists for the 2022 Leopold Conservation Award, the winner to be announced in a few weeks, according to a letter from the sponsor, leopoldconservationaward.org.

The prize is a $10,000 grant and a crystal award.

Conservation organizations that sponsor the award include Sand County Foundation, New England Forestry Foundation, Wildlands + Woodlands, and the American Farm Trust. The Leopold Conservation award is named for Aldo Leopold, whose 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, outlined what became modern conservation ideas and methods. The first award was made in 2003.

By Leslie Gawalt
Hartland farm is in the running for $10,00 award

The Cedar Mountain couple, who first met while working on a dairy farm in the Upper Hudson Valley, share finalist status with Bread and Butter Farm in Shelburne, Vermont and Wheel-View Farm in Shelburne, Massachusetts. It’s the second time Cedar Mountain has been a finalist. The sponsor urged them to renew their eight-page application a second year. The application also requires three letters of recommendation.

Cedar Mountain operates on 60 acres within the 260-acre conservation land developed by Donella Meadows as an “intentional community” with group housing, meals and cooperative sustainability organization. Leslie said they are milking 30 cows at present, and produce grass-fed beef and free-range chickens.

In 2017 Cedar Mountain was named “Top Farm in Vermont” by the USDA’s National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and was runner-up as “Vermont’s Dairy Farm of the Year” in 2013.

Gawalt and Leslie have long been advocates for environmentally friendly farming, including no-till agriculture production, climate change mitigation and accommodation, and soil health.

“We see it as non-violent direct action for conservation,” Leslie told the Mountain Times.

If they win, Gawalt said they have a long list of investments for the prize money, including upgrades and glass cases for their popular farm stand, and an automatic watering system for their cows.

“That’s farming,” Leslie said. “If you get your hands on any extra money, you pour it right back into your farm.”

Lance Irving, national program director for the organization, said the Leopold award “recognizes and celebrates extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation by private landowners”.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Superstar Six-Pack construction hits new phase as helicopters fly in concrete

July 3, 2025
KILLINGTON — Construction of the new Superstar six-pack chairlift has reached an exciting phase this summer, with helicopters now flying in concrete for the tower and terminal footings. On Wednesday, July 1, a helicopter was seen flying to Killington Resort with a payload of concrete. Killington Resort is replacing its iconic Superstar Express quad with…

Local road construction plans for 4th of July week

July 2, 2025
The following is a weekly report that lists its planned construction activities that will affect traffic on state highways and interstates throughout Vermont for the week of June 30. Most construction projects will pause work for the 4th of July `Local roads in Rutland and Windsor County, include:     I-89 Royalton Construction continues Monday through…

Ribbon cuttings in Ludlow and Proctorsville highlight local business growth

July 2, 2025
A pair of ribbon cuttings on June 20 held by the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce (OVRCC) marked a day of celebration for two local businesses and offered a boost of momentum to the region’s small business economy. In Ludlow, Aubuchon ACE Hardware unveiled its newly renovated store on Main Street with a grand…

Cirque Series celebrates successful Killington debut

July 2, 2025
By Polly Mikula The Cirque Series broke trail in New England with two new races. On June 7, runners raced up Cannon Mountain in Franconia, New Hampshire and this past Saturday, June 28, they tackled “The Beast of the East,” Killington Mountain. Cirque is also adding Crystal Mountain, Washington, to its national lineup of eight…