For Immediate Release: April 22, 2021

Media Contacts:

South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources contact: Brian Walsh, 605.773.5559

South Dakota Cattlemen contact: Jodie Anderson, 605.945.2333

South Dakota Grassland Coalition contact: Jim Faulstich, 605.852.2622

Sand County Foundation contact: Casey Langan, 608.663.4605 ext. 32

Prairie Paradise Farms to Receive South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award

PIERRE, SD – Today, in conjunction with Earth Day, Governor Kristi Noem and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources announced that Prairie Paradise Farms has been selected for the South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award^®.

Given in honor of renowned conservationist, Aldo Leopold, this award recognizes private landowners who inspire others with their dedication to the land, water, and wildlife resources in their care.

In South Dakota, the award is presented annually by Sand County Foundation, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, and the South Dakota Grassland Coalition. The award will be presented on December 1 in Rapid City in conjunction with the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association’s annual convention and trade show.

About the winner:

Levi and Crystal Neuharth took over management of Prairie Paradise Farms in 2016. Levi is a founding member and current chairman of the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition, so they make decisions based on the five principles of soil health: 1. Keep the soil covered; 2. Disturb as little as possible; 3. Keep living roots growing as much as possible; 4. Include diversity in plant communities; 5. Integrate livestock.

The crop residue left behind from no-till practices provides a protective armor for the soil, which creates habitat for soil organisms, prevents erosion and evaporation, and keeps out disease, pests, and weeds. A diverse rotation of crops allows them to capture different markets and spread out the risk from weather events.

The Neuharths raise diverse livestock as well, including a herd of 100 dairy goats and a free-range flock of 150 laying hens. In addition to 4-H projects for their three children (Johnathon, Justin, and Kaydee), the goats are an important and beneficial enterprise for the farm.

Although the Neuharths have been rotationally grazing their 3,000 acres of grasslands since 2010, they do not own any cattle. Their custom grazing business provides daily monitoring and frequent rotations to fresh pastures for other people’s beef cattle.

Active in a variety of agricultural and community organizations, Prairie Paradise Farms hosts a Family Day in May where visitors partake in hands-on educational stations on topics such as livestock, insects, germinating seeds, soil layers, and grain identification.

With assistance from the USDA-NRCS and their local conservation district, the Neuharths have also planted nearly 20 miles of trees to create wildlife habitat.

Additional award sponsors include Audubon Dakota, Bad River Ranches, Belle Fourche River Watershed Partnership, Blair Brothers LLC/DBA Blair Brothers Angus Ranch, Cammack Ranch, Daybreak Ranch, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., First Dakota National Bank, Kopriva Angus LLC, Millborn Seeds, Inc., North Central SARE-Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education, NRCS, Professional Alliance, SD Agricultural Land Trust, SD Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ (DANR) Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grant via the Discovery Center, SD DANR, SD Farm Bureau Federation, SD Game Fish and Parks, SD Pheasants Forever, SD Soil Health Coalition, SDSU College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences, SD Conservation Districts, The Nature Conservancy, Todd Mortenson Family, US Fish and Wildlife – Partners for Fish and Wildlife, Wagner Land & Livestock.

For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.

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