Wiltse Family Farms Wins 2025 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award
By SandCountyFdn
TL;DR: Wiltse Family Farms earns the 2025 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award for transforming over 500 acres from conventional cropland to native perennial grasses, integrating livestock and crops, and restoring soil health through regenerative practices.
- Converted over 500 acres to native perennial grasses.
- Implemented rotational grazing on cover crops.
- Improved soil health and water retention.
- Increased biodiversity with insects, birds, and plants.
- Reduced reliance on external inputs for profitability.
Why it matters: This case study demonstrates a successful, scalable model for regenerative agriculture that combats drought, enhances biodiversity, and improves farm profitability through ecological management.
Do this next: Explore how integrating perennial grasses and rotational grazing could benefit your land management.
Recommended for: Farmers, ranchers, and land managers interested in converting conventional cropland to regenerative, livestock-integrated perennial systems.
This video presentation details the 2025 Kansas Leopold Conservation Award given to Kevin and Amanda Wiltse of Wiltse Family Farms near Timken, Kansas, highlighting their regenerative livestock-crop integration on native range and dryland cropland. The farm's transformative strategy involves converting over 500 acres of conventional cropland to native perennial grasses and forbs without cost-share, using rotational grazing on cover crops to restore soil health, improve structure, enhance water retention, and combat drought—pastures stayed green in recent dry periods. Infrastructure includes 30,000 feet of water lines for stock tanks and fenced perennial field borders as cattle lanes, boosting pollinators and pheasants. Cash crops like milo, triticale, and rye serve dual purposes for grazing and wildlife. Kevin discusses early challenges: soil organic matter wasn't increasing, and infiltration was poor despite initial efforts, leading to diverse cover crop adoption starting small and scaling up. Success metrics include exploding biodiversity with insects, birds, and native plants from the seed bank, activated by healthy soil and grazing pressure. The large land base simplifies livestock management, while practices reduce input reliance for profitability. Kevin's evolution from yield-centric farming to ecological focus, inspired by a pivotal trip, now influences others via speaking and mentoring. Experts value his insights on regenerative methods balancing production and integrity. The video underscores measured outcomes like visible soil life, wildlife proliferation, and environmental services on their 2,500 acres, integrating no-till, rotations, manure via grazing, carbon sequestration, and habitat enhancement as a model for regenerative systems.