2026 Louisiana Conservation Champion Award recipient announced
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CLINTON, La. - LouisEagle -- The honor was bestowed upon him at the annual LACD conference on January 8, 2026 in Alexandria, Louisiana. Mr. Ard is the owner of Freeland Farms Forestry Consulting. He is also a family man, forester and Army veteran. He holds a degree in Wildlife Management from Louisiana State University. During his career as a forester, Mr. Ard contributed in countless ways to soil and water conservation. Included in those contributions is the way in which he educates his clientele on the positive outcomes achieved by practicing solid conservation initiatives. For decades, he has helped to foster conservation initiatives in the Deep South. This included facilitating a sale of a 40 acre natural area for conservation purposes around the largest tree east of the Rocky Mountains. For many years, Mr. Ard also managed 155 acres of Plum Creek property for Georgia Pacific. He belongs to various forestry associations within Louisiana and Mississippi. He also chaired the logging and harvesting committee for the Logger of the Year Award for conservation minded loggers. In addition, he managed a large hunting lodge, has been involved in managing wildlife and planting trees, building and installing duck boxes, nominated and won Tree Farm of the Year, participated in programs offered by the NRCS-USDA (including CSP contracts on land he owns in West Feliciana and Vermilion Parishes). Mr. Ard is not only educated in conservation, but he puts his knowledge to work on his own properties. They are beautiful tracts of land where conservation is king. He understands the importance of the practices and enhancements and uses those in his everyday life. He speaks daily to people about how imperative it is that nature is helped through solid conservation practices. As the President of Freeland Farms Forestry Consulting, Mr. Ard is able to demonstrate that principle to his clients.

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Feliciana Soil and Water Conservation District has had the pleasure of working with Mr. Ard via our partnership with the NRCS-USDA. We are proud that we were able to nominate him for this most prestigious award. Mr. Ard is very deserving of such an accolade.

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Media Contact

Arlene Culpepper Feliciana SWCD

arlene.culpepper@la.nacdnet.com