Carlisle farm one of three finalists for Kentucky conservation prize

A Carlisle County farm is one of three finalists for the 2023 Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award.

The farm of Steve and Melanie Kelley of Bardwell will compete for the $10,000 award against farms from Marion and Anderson Counties. 

The Kelleys have established pollinator and wildlife-friendly habitats over 800 acres of their farm. They use no-till practices and plant cover crops to maintain and keep moisture in the soil. The farm also has 17 acres of rock chutes and grassed waterways to protect against rapid runoff. In addition, the Kelleys have solar panels to produce electricity and sell the excess back to the grid.    

Drew Graham, Chairman of the Kentucky Agricultural Council said, “The Kentucky Agricultural Council is once again honored to recognize private landowners across the state who practice exceptional stewardship and conservation practices. The finalists for 2023 are an exceptional group of individuals.”  

The award is named for conservationist Aldo Leopold and is in recognition of landowners who go above and beyond in their protection and stewardship of their working land. 

The winner will be honored on July 11th in Bowling Green at the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts’ Annual Convention.
 
Reddick Farms of Bardwell was last year’s winner.

Photo of Reddick Farms from 2022 courtesy of the Leopold Conservation website