Jim
Lemke
Land Conservationist of the Year
Awarded in 2025
For outstanding contributions to the conservation of our land. Recipient could be a landowner, administrator, technician, or organization involved with such things as soil conservation measures, wetlands, and protection of surface or groundwater quality and quantity standards.
Jim Lemke has safeguarded over 100,000 acres through forest legacy easements, land acquisitions, and partnerships with state and national conservation organizations. His efforts include historic acquisitions like the Pelican River Forest Legacy Easement, expansions of the Leola Marsh and Princes Point Wildlife Areas, and trail enhancements for the Wolf River and White River State Trails. Lemke has improved public access, resolved complex realty issues, and reinvested proceeds from land sales into future conservation projects, making him a transformative force in Wisconsin land stewardship.