The annual Lone Star Land Steward Awards recognize and honor private landowners in Texas for their contributions to land, water and wildlife stewardship. More than 95 percent of land in Texas is privately owned or managed, making their efforts important to all of us. Funding from the Lone Star Land Steward Awards supports TPWD's Private Lands Program. This program enables TPWD field staff and partners to strategically apply habitat conservation on private lands making a real and lasting impact on the conservation of Texas' lands, waters and wildlife.

Objectives

Launched in 1996, the Lone Star Land Steward Awards are part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Private Lands Program. The awards program is designed to educate landowners and the public and to encourage participation in habitat conservation through the following objectives:

• Recognize private landowners for excellence in habitat management and wildlife conservation on their lands.
• Publicize the best examples of sound natural resource management practices.
• Encourage youth education and participation in promoting responsible habitat management and improved ecosystem health.
• Promote long-term conservation of unique natural and cultural resources.
• Promote ecosystem awareness and acknowledge the best conservation practices in the ecological regions of Texas.
• Enhance relationships between private landowners and Texas' natural resource agencies.
• Illustrate the important role of Texas' private landowners in the future of our natural resources.

Participants

• Ranchers
• Farmers
• Foresters
• Other Land Managers
• Wildlife Management Associations
• Corporations/Non-governmental Organizations (NGO)

Eligibility

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department encourages nominations for landowners who have managed their property for a minimum of five years.
• Nominees are considered for awards based on the ecoregion in which their land is located. Up to five ecoregion awards are presented each year.

Leopold Conservation Award

• Eligible landowners may be further considered for the Leopold Conservation Award, the highest honor bestowed as part of the Lone Star Land Steward Awards program.
• Learn more about the Leopold Conservation award.

Nominations

• The LSLS Awards Nominate a Landowner Form (fillable Word) must be sent to:
  Kevin Mote, Private Lands & Public Hunting Program Director

  Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
  4200 Smith School Road
  Austin, Texas 78744

  Or email the completed form to Kevin.Mote@tpwd.texas.gov
• 2026 nominations will be accepted starting July 15, 2025.
• Nominations for LSLS Awards may be made by any TPWD staff biologist or game warden, by any member of the TPW Commission, by any Trustee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, any conservation organization, or by any natural resource agency.
• Landowners must be nominated to be considered for an award.
• The landowner must accept the nomination in order to be considered for an award.
• Employees and Commissioners of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department may not receive awards, but may nominate others.

Winner Selection

Ecoregion Award

• TPWD staff biologists accompanied by members of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Private Lands Advisory Committee will visit the nominated properties and evaluate each based on the ecoregion criteria for selection.
• Staff teams will recommend a winner for their region.
• Final decisions on ecoregion winners are made by the Chair of the TPW Commission in consultation with the Vice-Chair.

Leopold Conservation Award

• The statewide evaluation team, consisting of TPWD staff biologists and Private Lands Advisory Committee members, will visit the nominated properties and evaluate each based on the statewide criteria.
• Staff recommendations are provided to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the TPW Commission for final selection.

Special Category Awards

These special categories allow an opportunity for those individuals and organizations that do not fit the mold of a traditional ecoregion nominee to be recognized for their exemplary private land stewardship efforts. Special categories considered for recognition are:

• Educator
• NGO/Corporate
• Wildlife Management Association

Award Recognition

Ecoregion Award Winners

The Ecoregion Award winner from each ecoregion will receive:

• a certificate from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, designating them as Lone Star Land Stewards,
• a gate sign,
• a plaque from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and
• an invitation to the Lone Star Land Steward Awards reception held in Austin each May where they will be honored.

Leopold Conservation Award Winners

The Leopold Conservation Award is presented to the overall winner of the Lone Star Land Steward Awards Recognition Program. The Leopold Conservation Award winner will receive:

• a $10,000 cash award and crystal trophy provided by the Sand County Foundation,
• a personalized, framed photo provided by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,
• a certificate from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, designating them as Lone Star Land Stewards,
• a gate sign, and
• an invitation to the Lone Star Land Steward Awards reception held in Austin each May where they will be honored.

Special Category Winners

• a certificate from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department designating them as Lone Star Land Stewards,
• a gate sign,
• a plaque from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and
• an invitation to the Lone Star Land Stewards Awards reception held in Austin each May where they will be honored.