Kansas Leopold Conservation Award Finalists Announced

Jul 21, 2023

The Sand County Foundation, in partnership with Ranchland Trust of Kansas (RTK) and the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (KACD), has announced four finalists for the Kansas Leopold Conservation Award. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the $10,000 award recognizes those who inspire others with their dedication to the land, water and wildlife resources in their care.

This year’s finalists are Ray and Susan Flickner of Wichita, the Kevin Karr family of Emporia, Janus Farms of Cherryvale and Glenn and Barbara Walker of Brookville.

The Flickner family installed sub-surface drip irrigation technology to become more efficient with water. Their innovative farm is a collaboration of partners, where new methods to improve soil health and conserve water are demonstrated.

The Karr family uses no-till practices and have enhanced wildlife habitat and reduced fuel use, while building a better soil structure. The combination of no-till and cover crops have bolstered the farm’s ability to recover from drought.

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Video: What Really Drives Meat Quality in Pork? - Dr. Yan Huang

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Yan Huang from University of Arkansas explores how genetics, nutrition, and stress management shape pork quality. He explains how molecular pathways influence fat deposition, muscle growth, and meat flavor while balancing production efficiency. Listen now on all major platforms!

"The most important driver of pork quality. Feed plays a very important role in the meat quality."

Meet the guest: Dr. Yan Huang / yan-huang-77829421 is an Associate Professor in Nutritional Skeletal Muscle Biology at the University of Arkansas. With academic experience across China, South Korea, and the United States, his work focuses on the genetic and molecular regulation of muscle growth and fat deposition in swine. His research connects genetics, nutrition, and pork quality to improve production efficiency and consumer satisfaction.