FRANKFORT, Ky. – It’s called the Leopold Conservation Award and this annual honor goes to farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land.

This year’s award went to Randy and John Seymour, a father-son team who own Riders Mill Farms and Roundstone Native Seed (RNS) LLC in Upton, Ky. The Hart County farmers were presented with the $10,000 award at the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts’ Annual Convention on Aug. 5.

“Some of the world’s best conservationists are farmers,” Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell said in a release. “This award is given to those who show the great stewardship for our agricultural lands. Randy and John not only showed an enthusiasm for conservation and restoration, but a passion for restoring our lands with native seeds. It is this dedication and forethought that will inspire and help generations of farmers to come.”

Their land was once home to tobacco fields, overgrown forests and limestone outcroppings. The ravaged land was gullied and stripped of soil nutrients. Quality timber had been selectively stripped. Neglect had left the area ecologically damaged.

The father-son duo had first intentions of raising beef cattle, growing tobacco, perhaps some row crops, and pursuing timber production on land where others had struggled to make a living in remote northwest Hart County. Their goal was to work the land, give it new life, and create something positive on what was once ignored property.

Mission accomplished, as the Seymours spent 40 years piecing together 28 parcels contoured with rolling hills, narrow valleys and sandstone capped ridge tops into a 2,150-acre tract called Riders Mill Farms.

“Pre-settlement, this land was pretty savanna, with wildflowers and an abundance of native plants,” Randy said. “We simply saw this land as an opportunity to restore it.”

Native plants and the seeds they produce caught their attention immediately.

Abundant remnants of native grass, legumes and wildflowers indicated the site would be ideal for their production. A survey of the farm’s flora found over 900 species. Each was collected, mounted, labeled and included in an on-site herbarium for public study.

But first, the Seymours dug 16 ponds to water cattle and protect the water quality of Roundstone Creek. Fences were built to protect the forest from cattle, and soil conditions were improved. They invested resources to control invasive species and repair severe erosion, and manage woodlands for timber production with the assistance of the Kentucky Division of Forestry.

The Seymours were intrigued by protecting rare and threatened plant species and creating habitat for diverse and abundant wildlife populations. By prioritizing their farm’s diverse flora and fauna they saw an opportunity to diversify their income stream. And that was fine with Randy, who has a strong background in botany.

Out of all this, RNS was established to specialize in growing seeds native to an economically distinct region. With more than 340 species in their seed catalog, the business helps other landowners establish native plants that reduce erosion, build soil health, and improve water quality.

“Remember, our original goal in coming here in the first place was to raise cattle and tobacco,” Randy said. “It wasn’t an easy transition and many even laughed at us.”

Now, seeds are at the forefront of their income. A large demand comes from agencies and organizations that collect seeds from their own properties and send them to RNS to be cleaned and conditioned. RNS coordinates with other area landowners to grow seed under contract. In addition to native seeds, Randy and John grow an average of 500 acres of soybeans and oats each year.

Riders Mill Farms contains a cave that serves as a maternity site for 36,000 gray bats, a federally listed endangered species. The Seymours vigorously protect the cave, allowing only biologists from April through October.

The Seymours have an agreement with Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife to provide public fishing access along a half mile of Roundstone Creek, which the agency stocks with trout. They also host long-term studies of reptiles and amphibians in collaboration with conservation organizations and universities.

More than 100 acres have been restored as oak savanna at the farm, which has served as a release site with habitat for Ruffed Grouse. The Seymours also partnered with neighbors to provide a 5,000-acre protection zone for turkey.

In 2024, they hosted an event with the University of Kentucky that attracted more than 100 forestland owners interested in conservation.

Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards in 28 states. An independent panel of agriculture and conservation leaders evaluates applications for the award. The award is given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold.