In one of North Dakota’s driest corners, where annual rainfall averages just 10 inches, John Lee and Ellen Njos have spent more than five decades showing that working land and conservation can go forward together. Since buying the 4,800-acre Coyote Creek Ranch near Rhame in Bowman County in 1973, the couple has gradually changed how they graze, water and manage their land. The family has now been awarded the 2026 North Dakota Leopold Conservation Award for their efforts, which recognize landowners who make exceptional contributions to soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat. The Njoses will receive the $10,000 in December, states Morning AgClips report. Survival on the ranch has often been a matter of doing something out of the ordinary. John Lee’s philosophy of conservation was taking shape when he joined his local soil conservation district board in 1986. So the district sent him to a holistic grazing course taught by Allan Savory. It opened his eyes to new ways of using fences and moving livestock to encourage grass growth and help soil absorb more water. He took those lessons home and began experimenting. One of the first decisions was to install cross-fencing, despite the skepticism of others in the ranching community. The results were impressive, showing that well managed grazing could improve both the landscape and the productivity of the ranch. The experience formed the bedrock for decades of experimentation and education.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
