Colorado Conservation

We often do stories with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service whereby farmers and ranchers are incentivized to get involved with conservation programs. This is a little bit of a different take on that subject. The Colorado Cattlemen's Association has announced Finalists for the 2015 Leopold Conservation Award® in Colorado. The prestigious award recognizes private landowner achievement in voluntary conservation.  Spokesperson Paula Waggoner: "Conservation can be a fairly broad term. This award is really focused on producers that have done conservation work voluntarily. Not necessarily because they got a government grant. We are honoring people who have taken the initiative to take better care of the environment." The finalists for the 2015 award are:??The Draper Ranch - a cow/calf ranch owned and operated by Buddy and Jerry Draper in Wetmore.??The Flying Diamond Ranch - headquartered near Kit Carson and has been owned and operated by Scott and Jean Johnson since 1990. ? ?The Green Creek Ranch - operated by Bill Gay in Pleasant Valley near Steamboat Springs.