HHB Award Information

Nomination form opens July 1st and closes September 1st

Once ready to submit a nomination, please click and follow the link: 2024 Hugh Hammond Bennett Award for Conservation Excellence Nomination Form - Formstack 

Note: You can save the nomination and come back to it at any time by clicking 'save and resume.'

Successful nominations should contain concise yet detailed narratives in each section for the evaluators to effectively assess each candidate's accomplishments.

Both regional and national review teams (consisting of two representatives from each of the NCPP partner organizations) will evaluate nominations and submit scores for each nominee. Partner leaders will then use the same scoring system to determine national winners. All entries will receive equal review and evaluation. Award winners will be determined strictly upon the written explanation of their activities in the application and demonstration of their contributions to effectively provide assistance to customers relative to conservation planning and/or implementation of conservation techniques to address resource concerns and improve environmental performance. A point evaluation system will be used as follows.

• Commitment to Conservation (0-10 points): Nominee shall have a current conservation plan and demonstrate commitment to following and monitoring their plan.
• Civic Engagement (0-10 points): Nominee demonstrates commitment to civic engagement and service at the local, state or national level. Civic engagement could be through elected or appointed service to a local soil and water conservation district; a resource conservation and development council; a local or state government body; or membership or service in other local, state or national organizations.
• Pioneer New Approaches to Conservation Planning and Implementation (0-10 points): Nominee shall embrace and incorporate into their management strategy new and innovative conservation planning tools (i.e., Field Print Calculator, 4-R Nutrient Stewardship, etc.)
• Advancement of Soil Health Adoption (0-10 points): Nominees not only have adopted soil health practices on their own land or operation but have also championed soil health through a variety of community outreach and educational activities.

The team award will be presented to the local conservation planners and support staff who have provided assistance to the producer award winner.

A list of the individuals to be recognized should be included on the producer nomination form.

• Communication (0-5 points): Provide details of the nominee’s ability to communicate effectively and cultivate personal and professional relationships with diverse groups of farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, state, local and tribal government officials, non-profit organizations and businesses relative to conservation planning and implementation techniques. 
• Relations (0-5 points): Describe the nominee’s working relationships and development of partnerships with diverse groups of farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, state, local and tribal government officials, non-profit organizations and businesses relative to conservation planning and implementation techniques.
• Education and Training (0-10 points): Describe the nominee’s accomplishments in youth and/or adult education and training of others in conservation planning and implementation techniques including other staff, partners, local farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. The nominee should also demonstrate a commitment to professional development.
• Application of Conservation Planning and Implementation (0-10 points): Describe the nominee’s assistance and technical contributions that have led to the application of outstanding conservation planning, implementation, and monitoring techniques demonstrating innovation on a variety of land uses to address local resource concerns to improve environmental performance.
• Complexity of Work and Mix of Achievements (0-15 points): Describe the nominee’s work complexity and highlight the mix of accomplishments in each type of activity. The write up should illustrate the nominee’s commitment to and responsibilities in conservation planning and implementation of techniques to address resource concerns to improve environmental performance.
• Professional Activities (0-5 points): Describe the nominee’s activities and involvement with professional conservation organizations that have assisted the nominee in achieving outstanding application of conservation planning and implementation techniques, such as, but not limited to, the Soil and Water Conservation Society, Society of American Foresters, Ecological Restoration Society, The Wildlife Society, Society for Rangeland Management, American Society of Agronomy and American Forage and Grassland Council, etc.

The national producer and conservation planner 2024 award winners will be formally recognized at the NACD Annual Meeting Appreciation Banquet in February of 2025. 

The national producer and conservation planner award winners are encouraged to attend the awards ceremony. Travel expenses will be paid by NCPP partners for all non-federal employees. Travel for any federal employee award winner will paid by their state.