While Aldo Leopold’s impact on the conservation movement is broad and deep, he is mostly known as the author of the now classic A Sand County Almanac. Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024, A Sand County Almanac has been translated into sixteen languages and serves as one of the foundational texts for anyone that cares about people and places. But becoming a classic doesn’t happen overnight; it requires great writing, and often a few twists of fate. Buddy will provide a quick biographical sketch of Aldo Leopold (catch the screening of Green Fire for a full biographical profile of Leopold) and then focus on the people and events that have kept A Sand County Almanac relevant for 75 years, continuing to inform and inspire a conservation ethic all over the world. And yes, cranes are part of this success story! 

About the speaker

Buddy Huffaker joined the Aldo Leopold Foundation in 1996 as a seasonal intern and has served as Executive Director since 1999.  During his tenure the foundation has grown the Leopold Community by protecting the Leopold Shack & Farm (the inspiration and setting for much of the classic A Sand County Almanac) as a National Historic Landmark, constructing the LEED Platinum Aldo Leopold Legacy Center out of trees planted by the Leopold family, producing the Emmy Award winning documentary Green Fire, and supporting ten different foreign translations of A Sand County Almanac. The foundation continues the Leopold family’s commitment to stewardship through the restoration and management of the 4,400 acre Leopold-Pines Conservation Area and by using this experience to inform and inspire other landowners to adopt and implement their own land ethic. Buddy has also served on state and federal advisory conservation committees and has participated in three White House Conferences on conservation and environmental education.