Private Landowner Conservation Champions

The LMVJV Private Landowner Conservation Champion Award

Since 2019, the LMVJV’s Private Landowner Conservation Champions program has been recognizing the crucial role that private lands stewards play in conserving the natural resources we all treasure. Simply put, private landowners are key components of land conservation and essential to our partnership. In fact, they manage over 90% of wildlife habitat in the LMVJV region. Moreover, Private Landowner Conservation Champions significantly impact the opinions, behavior, and decisions of their neighbors. They may be early adopters or successful participants in many of our important conservation programs (WRE, CRP, EQIP, Partners for Fish & Wildlife, Conservation Easements, etc.), which depend on the investment, cooperation, and enthusiasm of private landowners. Finally, private landowners possess a unique and powerful voice in positively communicating with decision-makers at local, state, and federal levels. The PLCC program gives us all an opportunity to recognize and thank private landowners who go above and beyond for conservation.

Meet Our 2023 Champion

Gary Costlow, Texas

Bermudagrass pasture restored to native grasses and forbs

2021 Champions

Walker Morris, Arkansas

Field day hosted by Walker Morris.

Harvey Kieffer, Louisiana

Harvey Kieffer's restored open pine.

2020 Champions

Johnny & Karen Armstrong family, Louisiana

Actively managing 500 acres of shortleaf pine/oak-hickory woodland for 13 years.

Ed Justice, Louisiana

The 850-acre Justice property is located on a two and a half mile stretch of Bayou Bartholomew, a designated Scenic Stream.

White Rock Pasture - Texas

Eastern wild turkey release onto 11,545 acres owned by Red Town Timberlands and managed by Meridian Forestry since 2001.

2018 Champions

Dickson - Pinola Conservancy, Louisiana

Waterfowl release by LSU students after banding, at the Pinola Conservancy-managed property owned by Paul Dickson.

Ronnie Strickland, Fowl Play Lodge, Arkansas

Two thousand acres of wetland habitat managed for long-term benefits to wildlife.