Blue Bell Ranch near Clear Lake owned and managed by Herb and Beverly Hamann received the 2017 South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award. There are more than 5,000 acres of native grasslands and wetlands on their ranch. Herb says the practices they use have led to the conservation of mother nature’s resources.

He works with U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials to use the most cost effective practices and achieve the greatest environmental benefits from his land.

Hamann would like to see more farmers and ranchers utilize conservation methods on their operations. He’s concerned when marginal land is put back into crop production.

The Hamanns implement conservation practices with or without incentives because they believe it’s the right thing to do. The South Dakota Leopold Award is presented by the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, Grassland’s Coalition and Sand County Foundation.