(Madison, WI)—The Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association (WI Land+Water) congratulates the recipients of its 2026 Conservation Awards, honoring individuals and families who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to Wisconsin's land, water, and natural resources.

The annual awards recognize conservation professionals, farm families, and community partners whose contributions—whether in the field, the office, or on their own land—have made a lasting impact on Wisconsin's landscapes and communities. 

“The people we celebrate this year represent the very best of locally led conservation," said WI Land+Water Executive Director Matt Krueger. "Each winner has spent years showing up for their community, their colleagues, and the land itself. And their combined impact on Wisconsin's natural resources is extraordinary.”

Award recipients are nominated by their peers across Wisconsin's county land and water conservation departments. The WI Land+Water Professional Improvement Committee reviews the nomination materials and selects the winners. Recipients are recognized during the Conservation Awards Banquet, held each year at WI Land+Water's Annual Conference.

Conservation Farm Family of the Year - Gunderson Grain Farms, Racine County 

The Gundersons have farmed the same land near Waterford, WI long enough to watch conservation science evolve around them, and they've kept pace with every decade. Brian Gunderson has farmed full-time since age 18, first alongside his father Dave, and now with his daughters Kora and Ashley, who will carry the farm into its eighth generation. 

As recipients of the 2026 Conservation Farm Family Award, Gunderson Grain Farms is recognized for being among the first in their region to adopt no-till farming. After running side-by-side comparisons of no-till and conventional tillage in the 1970s, the family made the full switch by the mid-1980s — farming as many as 5,000 acres at their peak. In 2004, they enrolled 43 acres of grassed buffers into the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, protecting more than a mile of perennial streams. By 2018, they had added cover crops to the mix, and Brian says the soil is in better condition today than it has ever been.

As a founding member of the Watershed Protection Committee of Racine County, Brian and his family have turned their farm into a living classroom, sharing what they've learned with neighboring farmers working to improve soil health and water quality across the region. A short film telling their story will be produced and released this summer. 

Conservation Legacy Award – Serge Koenig, Sauk County 

Serge Koenig has a favorite Theodore Roosevelt quote: "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care." It's a philosophy his colleagues say he lives out every day.

The recipient of this year's Conservation Legacy Award, Koenig has spent more than 30 years working with landowners across Wisconsin. He builds trust one conversation at a time, and then puts that trust to work on the land. As a technician, Koenig has done it all—conservation planning, surveying, designing, and in recent years led the promotion and implementation of rotational grazing. He has single-handedly facilitated the conversion of nearly 6,000 acres into rotationally grazed pasture, which has reshaped both landscapes and the livelihoods of the farm families working them.

As someone who leads with empathy and genuine listening, Koenig has become one of the most effective voices in Wisconsin conservation. In recent years, he has generously shared those lessons at conferences and new employee trainings, teaching the next generation of conservationists that effective communication isn't just a soft skill, it's the whole job. His commitment to public service, Wisconsin’s natural resources, and the well-being of others has left an immeasurable impact on our conservation community. 

Friend of Conservation – Paul Dietmann, Compeer Financial 

If you've ever heard the words "return on investment" at a conservation event, there's a good chance Paul Dietmann was at the podium.

This year's Friend of Conservation, Dietmann has spent years as a fixture at WI Land+Water's Annual Conference, helping county conservation staff get comfortable talking to farmers about money. He simplifies farm financial concepts—balance sheets, return on investment, cash flow—so that staff can sit across a kitchen table with a producer and have an honest, useful conversation about profitability. He's been especially effective at showing how rotational grazing can allow beginning farmers to start their careers without the added stress and debt that often comes with traditional farming operations. 

What makes Dietmann stand out is equal parts knowledge and character. He manages his own farm in Iowa County, where he recently worked with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to install a grazing system, and serves as a farmer-member of the Iowa County Uplands Watershed Group. He is someone who practices what he teaches, in every sense.

Outstanding Conservation Employee, Administrative Assistant – Mayme Keagy, Iowa County 

In Iowa County, Mayme Keagy holds the title of administrative assistant, but that simple job description stopped fitting the outstanding scope of her work years ago.

Recognized as Outstanding Conservation Employee – Administrative Assistant, Keagy is the "heart" of her office. She’s the person who remembers everyone's birthday, makes clients feel welcome, and quietly keeps the whole operation running. She cares about people, about conservation, and about her department’s mission, often learning about conservation topics on their own time. She’s a master gardener specializing in native plants and ecological restoration, growing her own native plants from seed and completing restoration projects on her own property. That expertise has made her a trusted resource for staff and landowners alike.

She's also brought professional-grade graphic design, web design, video, and photography skills to her department's public outreach efforts, elevating its presence in ways that extend well beyond any standard job description.

Outstanding Conservation Employee, Technician/Planner – Blake Schuebel, Shawano County 

Our next award winner began his conservation career in 1992 as an LTE with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He then moved into county government in southwest Wisconsin, becoming a watershed technician in 1993 and serving in that role until 1998. That same year, he found his next position as a conservation technician, establishing roots at a latitude not far from his hometown, and he has remained in that role ever since.

Recognized as Outstanding Conservation Employee – Technician/Planner, Schuebel is the kind of person a county conservation department builds around. Over more than three decades, he has inspected septic systems, issued address numbers, designed conservation practices, coordinated wildlife damage programs, led nutrient management workshops, managed Targeted Runoff Management grants, helped administer the Farmland Preservation Program, and trained four new staff members in the past six years alone.

What his colleagues emphasize most, though, isn't the breadth of the work, but how he approaches it. Schuebel is a strong communicator who can explain complex issues in a way that makes sense, helping landowners find solutions that work for everyone involved. He treats people with respect, and that respect is reflected in the many friendships he has built with coworkers and farmers throughout the county during his 30-year career. 

Outstanding Conservation Employee, County Conservationist – Scott Frank, Shawano County 

Scott Frank began his conservation career in 1995 as a watershed coordinator and has spent the decades since in dedicated service to one county. After transitioning through another department, he settled into his current role as Shawano County Conservationist, a position he has held for 16 years and made entirely his own.

The scope of what Frank has built in Shawano County is quietly remarkable. He helped launch an annual nutrient management planning class, organized a producer-led watershed group, and worked with the county health department to start a well water testing program. He maintains a rock-solid budget that has earned the confidence of county supervisors. Frank also serves on three boards, helps lead a nationally award-winning organization, and is a regular presence at community events. He can be found pounding stakes at Brunch on the Farm, judging poster contests, and serving as president of a local Wild Ones chapter.

His passion for the next generation of conservationists runs especially deep. He helped build a youth field day program that now runs twice a year, bringing together nearly 400 students from 10 schools. He volunteers as a counselor for WI Land+Water’s Youth Conservation Summer Camps, where his enthusiasm and warmth earned him a nickname that has stuck ever since. To those campers, he isn't the Shawano County Conservationist—he’s simply "Ranger." 

Those who work alongside him describe him the same way: humble, thoughtful, and deeply respected. He is often the first to arrive and the last to leave. He encourages his staff to stay curious, stay involved, and give their time where it matters most. The best short description anyone has offered is simply this: he is a warm smile you can trust.

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WI Land+Water presents its Conservation Awards annually to recognize exceptional commitment to Wisconsin's natural resources. For a full list of past recipients and award criteria, visit our Conservation Awards page.