The Back 40

Alisa Valdes argued that the Department of Labor’s proposal to place age restrictions on farm labor will prevent many children from having the type of positive agricultural experience her son did. The Obama Administration ultimately agreed with this point if view and withdrew the proposal:  “The Obama administration is firmly committed to promoting family farmers [...]

By: Alisa Valdes, Learning to Submit A year ago, if you’d asked me whether the U.S. Dept. of Labor should regulate child labor on farms and ranches, I would have stood up, done a big ole fist pump, and shouted “Heck yes! Go git ‘em!” Visions of Dickensian exploitation would have swirled in my head. [...]

WINNING HEARTS, MINDS, AND THE U.S. WATER PRIZE – CEREMONY HONORS INNOVATORS, INTEGRATORS & EDUCATORS FOR WATER SUSTAINABILITY Commemorating Earth Day, the Clean Water America Alliance presented six outstanding organizations the 2012 U.S. Water Prize in a ceremony attended by 300 U.S. water leaders.  “Water needs champions” noted Ben Grumbles, president of the Alliance.  “These [...]

In celebration of Earth Day, Wyoming Governor Matt Mead proclaimed July 12, 2012 as Wyoming Environmental Stewardship Day. Governor Mead signed the proclamation during a ceremony on Tuesday in his formal office. Each year, Wyoming Environmental Stewardship Day marks the date of the Environmental Stewardship Tour hosted by the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) and [...]

By: Joseph Britt As communities across the nation look for options to ensure clean water for their residents, Sand County Foundation is honored to participate in a new water quality project of national significance. Madison, Wisconsin has begun the first Watershed Adaptive Management Option (WAMO) pilot project in a subwatershed north of Lake Mendota. The [...]

In honor of Earth Day, Governor Dave Heineman announced the Buell family as the recipient of the 2012 Leopold Conservation Award April 20, during a ceremony at the Capitol. The Leopold Conservation Award, named in honor of world-renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, is comprised of $10,000 and a Leopold crystal. Sand County Foundation, Nebraska Cattlemen and [...]