Bowles Farming Company of Los Banos is the 2024 California Leopold Conservation Award® recipient.
The $10,000 award honors farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.
Cannon Michael, Bowles Farming Company President, was presented with the award during the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting on December 9.
Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In California, the award is presented with Sustainable Conservation and the California Farm Bureau Federation.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others to consider conservation opportunities on their land. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold advocated for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.
Earlier this year, California landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. Nominations were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders from California.
With more than 160 years of farming the same land, the importance of responsible agriculture is not lost on the Bowles and Lawrence families. Trends come and go, but sustainability and resilience have defined this family business for generations.
Bowles Farming Company’s roots trace back to when Henry Miller began farming in the San Joaquin Valley in 1858. Miller is also credited with establishing his ancestors’ commitment to conservation.
When Miller noticed that Tule elk were being erased from the landscape by hunters, he made an investment to protect the species. At a time when conservation wasn’t top of mind, Miller had horsemen round up the last remaining Tule elk and relocate them to a protected area. From these few dozen individuals, Tule elk now inhabit various areas within their historical range in California.
Miller’s ancestor, Cannon Michael, carries on that legacy by providing leadership on habitat protection, water conservation, soil health, sustainable farming, and sound farm and environmental policy as president of Bowles Farming Company. Michael leads the business that his grandfather formed with two siblings in 1965 with curiosity, open-mindedness, and genuine concern for the well-being of people and the planet.
Across the 11,200 acres under his management, Michael has embraced innovative conservation practices including cover crops and precision technology to optimize water and nutrient management. Bowles Farming Company participates in rigorous certification programs for its crops of tomatoes, corn, herbs, garlic, wheat, alfalfa, melons, carrots, almonds, and cotton.
With farmland adjacent to the San Joaquin River, key riparian corridors have been restored and 650 acres of wetlands dedicated in a federal easement provide critical habitat for migratory birds. Michael’s concern for California’s water resources stretches beyond his farm gate.
Michael is described as a natural convenor among farm, NGO, and water-user communities, who seeks lasting policy solutions. He regularly hosts large group dinners at his farm for agricultural and conservation leaders to build trust and identify areas of common ground on challenging water and land issues. As a member of the Environmental Defense Fund’s Ecosystem Committee, he helped shape its approach to water policy, climate-smart farming, and Endangered Species Act implementation.
Bowles Farming Company boasts a growing list of collaborations with state, federal, and NGO partners. With assistance from Pollinator Partnership, it established a 1.5-mile hedgerow around the perimeter of its managed wetlands. Michael credits Audubon Society biologists with helping him see how cropland can be managed to provide better bird habitat. In addition to conducting bird surveys, he invested time and resources into protecting raptors by trapping pests in crop fields instead of using poison to control them.
Michael’s openness to innovation led him to be an early adopter of installing solar arrays on his farm and utilizing composted green waste from nearby municipalities. The diversion of organic, green waste from landfills reduces methane emissions, which helps California meet its climate change goals.
Michael’s appreciation for the environmental benefits of native plants led to the creation of Great Valley Seed which uses his farming expertise to scale up the production of cost-effective native plants. It’s that sort of resilience that has always served as this farm’s cornerstone.
This Merced County landscape has witnessed a lot of changes over the past 165 growing seasons. Under the conservation-minded leadership of Cannon Michael, the Bowles Farming Company has found a way to a way to innovate, adapt, and thrive.
ACCOLADES
“We are honored to recognize the extraordinary efforts of California farmers and ranchers who go above and beyond in their stewardship of natural resources,” said Shannon Douglass, California Farm Bureau Federation President. “Bowles Farming Company has championed sustainable farming, habitat protection and so much more for decades. Their pioneering and innovative spirit demonstrates the ability of California farmers and ranchers to find solutions for environmental issues while continuing to grow crops to feed and clothe the world.”
“Bowles Farming Company exemplifies what a large operation can do to care for and better the land they manage,” said Ashley Boren, Sustainable Conservation CEO, which has co-sponsored the award since its launch in California in 2006. “Their attention to on-farm practices, community leadership, and partnership on statewide resource issues make an important difference for wildlife and people who rely on nutritious food, clean water, and green space to thrive.”
“These award recipients are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO. “Their dedication to conservation is both an inspiration to their peers as well as a reminder to all how important thoughtful agriculture is to clean water, healthy soil, and wildlife habitat.”
“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the award recipients,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that exemplary conservation involves the land itself, the practices employed on the land, and the people who steward it. This award recognizes the integral role of all three.”
Among the many outstanding California landowners nominated for the award were finalists: Hat Creek Grown of Hat Creek in Shasta County, and Stemple Creek Ranch of Tomales in Marin County.
The California Leopold Conservation Award is made possible thanks to generous contributions from American Farmland Trust, Sustainable Conservation, California Farm Bureau Federation, Sand County Foundation, The Harvey L. & Maud C. Sorenson Foundation, Farm Credit, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service of California, McDonald’s, and California Leopold Conservation Award alumni.
To view all past recipients of the California Leopold Conservation Award, visit: https://sandcountyfoundation.org/our-work/leopold-conservation-award/state/california
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