Gathering Waters: Announces 2026 Land Conservation Leadership Award winners

MADISON, WI – Gathering Waters: Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts presents the Land Conservation Leadership Awards each year to honor individuals and organizations that devote their time and talents to protecting Wisconsin’s land, water, and wildlife.

The 2026 award winners are:

Abbie Church – Land Trust Professional of the Year

Mark Lesko – Land Trust Volunteer of the Year

Andrew Struck – Harold “Bud” Jordahl Lifetime Achievement Award

Ron and Darla Giordano – Land Legacy Award

Cody Kamrowski – Advocacy Champion

“Every year, Gathering Waters honors conservation leaders through the Land Conservation Leadership Awards for their dedication to protecting Wisconsin’s land, water, and wildlife,” said Mike Carlson, executive director of Gathering Waters. “We extend our thanks and gratitude to this year’s award winners for their efforts to further land conservation resulting in lasting changes around the state. We’re excited to celebrate their accomplishments.”

Award winners will be presented with the Land Conservation Leadership Awards at local events throughout the year. Read about each of the award winners below.

Abbie Church – Land Trust Professional of the Year

Abbie Church has dedicated nearly two decades of her career to protecting the remarkable landscapes of Wisconsin’s Driftless Area. She joined Mississippi Valley Conservancy in 2007 and rose to serve as its Conservation Director in 2013. Abbie is directly involved in stewarding the organization’s 27,000+ protected acres across a nine-county region. Under her leadership, the Conservancy now manages over 40 nature preserves as well as over 130 conservation easements, with landowner interest continuing to grow.

Abbie is widely respected for pairing technical excellence with a remarkable ability to connect people to the land. Whether she is walking a property with a landowner, leading a prescribed burn, or navigating a complex conservation easement transaction, Abbie brings professionalism, patience, and deep care to every interaction. Her knowledge of botany, ornithology, and field ecology is widely admired and she has an uncommon gift for helping landowners see and feel the ecological richness of their land.

Mark Lesko – Land Trust Volunteer of the Year

Mark Lesko has been a cornerstone of land conservation in southeast Wisconsin since the late 1990s, when he first began volunteering at what would eventually become Seno K/RLT Conservancy in Burlington. Over the course of nearly three decades, he has grown from a hands-on volunteer — planting trees, managing woodland habitat, controlling invasive species, and helping remodel the barn that became Seno’s learning center — to the Board President, a role he has filled with the same dedication that defined his early years.

He currently serves as the de facto forest manager for Seno’s 127-acre Woodland Center property, coordinates land management volunteers, leads prescribed burns, and keeps the organization’s beloved maple sugaring program running. What truly sets Mark apart is his ability to inspire others. He has grown Seno K/RLT’s board, inspired the next generation of conservation volunteers, and helped close landmark conservation easements on properties that enhance southeast Wisconsin’s landscape. Mark embodies the spirit of land stewardship — humble, tireless, and rooted in a genuine love for the land.

Andrew Struck – Harold “Bud” Jordahl Lifetime Achievement Award

Andrew Struck has dedicated more than 25 years of his career to preserving the natural landscapes and waterways of Ozaukee County, serving as its Director of Planning and Parks for most of his career to date. His visionary leadership has helped secure funding for some very special Lake Michigan coastal properties, including Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve, Forest Beach Migratory Preserve, and Clay Bluffs Cedar Gorge Nature Preserve. 

In addition to land acquisition, Andrew spearheaded the Ozaukee County Fish Passage Program, removing stream impediments and reconnecting 150 miles of streams and hundreds of acres of wetlands and floodplain to Lake Michigan. He also oversaw the development of two iterations of the Ozaukee County Farmland Preservation Plan, which identified over 54,000 acres of agricultural land for long-term protection. 

Beyond Ozaukee County’s borders, Andrew served as a founder of Bird City Wisconsin, which launched the Bird City Network, now spanning 300 communities in 13 states and three Latin American countries. Andrew’s “partnership-first” philosophy has made him one of Wisconsin’s most effective conservation leaders. His spirit of persistence and cross-disciplinary leadership have resulted in a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship. 

Ron and Darla Giordano – Land Legacy Award
Ron and Darla Giordano’s conservation legacy is rooted in a profound love for the land. The Giordanos fell in love with a remarkable 40-acre parcel in Columbia County’s Wisconsin River Valley. For five years, Ron called the original owner every month, asking if he would consider selling. When the owner finally agreed, the Giordanos got to work quickly, connecting with the Wisconsin DNR to complete an ecological survey. A site assessment confirmed the property harbored intact native vegetation, significant restoration potential for sand prairie and oak savanna habitat, and even a state-endangered animal species.

The Giordanos made the extraordinary decision to donate their property permanently to The Prairie Enthusiasts in May 2023, ensuring its protection in perpetuity. Groundswell Conservancy led negotiations, made arrangements for the closing, and helped cover closing costs. Recognizing that meaningful restoration requires real investment, the Giordanos went a step further with a generous cash donation to support the site’s initial management. The property is now named Giordano Oak Barrens and Sand Prairie, and sits near an existing 12-acre nature preserve, offering the potential to create a larger ecosystem of sandy habitat.

Cody Kamrowski – Advocacy Champion

Cody Kamrowski serves as the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (WiWF), where he leads the organization’s policy and advocacy efforts on behalf of hunters, anglers, trappers, and all who value Wisconsin’s outdoors. As the Federation’s primary policy strategist, Cody works across a wide range of natural resource issues advancing efforts related to public access, water quality, habitat conservation, wildlife regulation, and broader environmental protections. The Federation is highly engaged in the Wisconsin State Legislature and, when impactful, in federal policy discussions, ensuring that the voices of Wisconsin’s outdoor communities are represented at all levels.

Cody has been WiWF’s leading voice in advocating for the reauthorization and long-term sustainability of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Through coalition-building, legislative engagement, and strategic communication, he has helped elevate the importance of dedicated conservation funding and its role in protecting land, water, and wildlife while expanding outdoor access opportunities for all Wisconsinites.