(Ankeny, Iowa – June 11, 2025) The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) would like to congratulate the winners of the 2025 SWCS awards and scholarships. Awards are presented annually to individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions in advocating and advancing the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources. All winners will be recognized at the 80th SWCS International Annual Conference Awards Luncheon on August 5, 2025, in Costa Mesa, California. Read additional information about each recognition.
The Hugh Hammond Bennett Award, the Society’s most prestigious award, recognizes extraordinary accomplishments in the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources.
Rich Duesterhaus has been awarded the 2025 Hugh Hammond Bennett Award in recognition of his significant and far-reaching contributions to natural resource conservation. Now in his seventh decade of service, Duesterhaus has worked at the local, state, and national levels and continues to shape the field.
He began his career as a student trainee with the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), now the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Over the next nearly 40 years, he held positions in Illinois, New York, Maine, and Washington, DC, rising from soil conservationist to state conservationist and eventually into senior leadership.
After retirement from NRCS in 1997, Duesterhaus joined the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), where he has served in various roles for over 25 years. He currently serves as senior advisor.
Throughout his career, Duesterhaus has demonstrated influential leadership across the conservation landscape. He served as the first executive director of the National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA) and played a key role in providing strategic advice to the National Conservation Planning Partnership (NCPP).
A long-time member of SWCS, Duesterhaus is a past Fellow Award recipient and served as the Society’s 44th president. He has contributed to the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, mentored emerging professionals, and helped SWCS remain connected to evolving policy and conservation issues. Whenever called upon by the Society, he has provided institutional knowledge, participated on panels, and advised new leaders—ensuring that SWCS continues to play a strong role in the broader conservation movement.
In the spirit of Hugh Hammond Bennett, Duesterhaus has helped establish new conservation organizations, improve the conservation delivery system, and bring new voices to the table. His impact is evident in numerous national programs and initiatives, as well as his work to educate policymakers and the public.
His lifelong commitment and leadership embody the values of the Hugh Hammond Bennett Award. SWCS is proud to recognize Rich Duesterhaus as the 2025 honoree.
The Society Fellow Awards are given in recognition of SWCS members who have performed exceptional service in advocating the conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources. Fellowship is an honor bestowed upon the best in the conservation profession. This year’s Fellow awardees are:
- Lisa Duriancik, Virginia
- Dennis Flanagan, Indiana
- Gretchen Sassenrath, Kansas
Additional awards presented in 2025 are listed below.
Conservation Innovation Award
In recognition of an outstanding activity, product, or service by a group, business, firm, corporation, or organization that promotes natural resource conservation.
- Louisiana Master Farmer Program, Louisiana
- University of California, Davis Agricultural Water Center, California
Conservation Research Award
In recognition of Society members or teams of members whose research has led to exceptional improvements in soil conservation, water conservation, and/or related natural resources research.
- Madhav Dhakal, Mississippi
- Sindhu Jagadamma, Tennessee
- Ekrem Ozlu, North Carolina
- David Toledo, North Dakota
Harold and Kay Scholl Excellence in Conservation Award
In recognition of individuals who work on the ground to provide direct and personal delivery or conservation planning and technical assistance.
- Evan Brehm, Iowa
Society Service Award
In recognition of Society members for service to their chapter or to the Society.
- William Elliott, Indiana
- Jane Holzer, Montana
- Douglas Landblom, North Dakota
NEW AWARD! Emerging Leader Alumni Award
In recognition of outstanding alumni of the Emerging Leaders Program who have demonstrated a commitment to conservation leadership and active participation in the Society.
- Charlie Cole, Illinois
- Brandi Murphy, California
Chair’s Leadership Award
In recognition of exemplary assistance in helping to carry out the goals and objectives of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.
- South Carolina Chapter
- Hugh Hammond Bennett Chapter
- J. Arbuckle
- Keegan Kult
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Award Recipients
Best Research Paper for Impact and Quality Award
In recognition of the impact and quality of the following research paper:
V. Perry and M.A. Davenport. 2020. An inductive framework of self-efficacy to understand and support farmers in conservation agriculture. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 75(2): 198–208. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.75.2.198.
Best Research Paper for Impact and Quality Honorable Mentions
In recognition of the impact and quality of the following research papers:
S. Lohani, C. Baffaut, A.L. Thompson, N. Aryal, R.L. Bingner, D.L. Bjorneberg, D.D. ant, A. Buda, S.M. Dabney, A.R. Davis, L.F. Duriancik, D.E. James, K.W. King, P.J.A. Kleinman, M. Locke, G.W. McCarty, L.A. Pease, M.L. Reba, D.R. Smith, M.D. Tomer, T.L. Veith, M.R. Williams, and L.M.W. Yasarer. 2020. Performance of the Soil Vulnerability Index with respect to slope, digital elevation model resolution, and hydrologic soil group. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 75(1): 12–27. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.75.1.12.
C. Lacey, C. Nevins, J. Camberato, E. Kladivko, A. Sadeghpour, and S. Armstrong. 2020. Carbon and nitrogen release from cover crop residues and implications for cropping systems management. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 75(4): 505–514. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2020.00102.
Editor’s Choice Award Winner
In recognition of the following article of excellence appearing in the “A” Section of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation in the previous year:
R. Lal. 2024. A historic landmark for the role of soil health in climate and food security: “Soil health” in COP28 UAE Declaration. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 79(3):48A–52A. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2024.0226A.
Editor’s Choice Honorable Mention
In recognition of the following article of excellence appearing in the “A” Section of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation in the previous year:
J.L. Steiner, J. Lisonbee, A. Kremen, and A.F. Cibils. 2024. Pathways to sustaining agriculture and communities in the Ogallala region. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 79(6):99A–105A. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2024.1001A.
Associate Editor Excellence Award
In recognition of associate editors for their contributions to the success and development of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.
- MS Srinivasan, New Zealand
- Clark Gantzer, Missouri
Chapter Award Recipients
Exceptional Chapter Event Award
In recognition of chapters for significant achievements through a single activity conducted during the year.
- Georgia Chapter Joint Annual Meeting: Rising Together: Collaborative Conservation & Preservation for Georgia
- Kansas State University Chapter Tallgrass Prairie Service Trip
- Land of Lincoln Chapter IL SWCS-HCC Agriculture Panel, Tour, and Chapter Annual Meeting
- North Dakota Chapter Webinars
- Southern New England Chapter Erosion and Sediment Control Field Days
Outstanding Chapter Award
In recognition for the chapter’s success in carrying out its overall program during the past year.
- California-Nevada Chapter
- Georgia Chapter
- Iowa Chapter
- Michigan Chapter
- National Capital Chapter
- Nebraska Chapter
- North Dakota Chapter
- Oregon Chapter
- Southern New England Chapter
Scholarship Recipients
Kenneth E. Grant Scholarship
The Kenneth E. Grant Scholarship provides financial aid to members of the SWCS for interdisciplinary graduate-level research on a conservation topic that will extend the SWCS mission of fostering the science and the art of soil, water, and related natural resource management research.
- Beverly Álvarez-Torres, North Dakota
Melville H. Cohee Student Leader Conservation Scholarship
The Melville H. Cohee Student Leader Conservation Scholarship provides financial assistance to members of SWCS who are in their junior or senior year of full-time undergraduate study or are pursuing graduate level studies with a natural resources conservation orientation at a properly accredited college or university.
- Jonathan Brye, Arkansas
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About SWCS
For eighty years, the Soil and Water Conservation Society has been the premier international organization for professionals who practice and advance the science and art of natural resource conservation. We believe sustainable land and water management is essential to the continued security of the earth and its people. Our goal is to cultivate an organization of informed, dynamic individuals whose contributions create a bright future for agriculture, the environment, and society. The Soil and Water Conservation Society is headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, with chapters across the United States and internationally.
For More Information:
For more information, contact us at awards@swcs.org.