BLC's Annual Awards

Since 2018, Bluegrass Land Conservancy has honored the conservation efforts of fellow Kentuckians with our Annual Conservation Dinner and Awards.

The Kentucky Land Conservationist of the Year Award

The Kentucky Land Conservationist of the Year Award recognizes the efforts of individuals who have made a significant contribution to land protection and natural resource conservation in Kentucky, including the Bluegrass Region.

The Mary Louise Allen Memorial Award

The Mary Louise Allen Memorial Award recognizes individuals who have devoted their professional careers to further land protection and natural resource conservation in Kentucky and through their efforts have made a significant and lasting impact on the state, displaying passion, commitment, and dedication to the cause.

Lendy Brown

The KY Land Conservationist and Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree 2024

Lendy Brown has dedicated herself to promoting Kentucky’s rich heritage by serving on numerous boards that protect and educate on the unique qualities of our Commonwealth, including the visual, economic, and historic impact of the Thoroughbred industry. In addition to conserving nearly 400 acres of her farmland, she has used her dynamic personality to educate the importance of land use planning and conservation of Kentucky’s Bluegrass in board rooms and on the Bourbon County Fiscal Court.

Nana Lampton

The KY Land Conservationist of the Year Award Honoree 2022-2023

A renowned businesswomen, poet, and artist, Nana Lampton is a woman of many talents. While Nana’s interests include urban development, historic preservation, and the arts, her commitment to conservation has had a profound and permanent effect on land protection in Kentucky. As a long-time advocate of land conservation, she has increased the level of expertise and pace of conservation by consistently supporting accreditation of land trusts in the state.

Bob Griffith

The Mary Louise Allen Memorial Award Honoree 2022-2023

Bob Griffith, an attorney whose career has been heavily focused on land protection, has created the conservation easement framework for Kentucky's land trusts. He has represented landowners and land trusts, served on Boards related to land conservation efforts, and has been a frequent lecturer on land use, historic preservation, and conservation easements. His passion for both the built and natural environments extends well beyond his professional capacity—in 2015, he was recognized with an Ida Lee Willis Project Award by the Kentucky Heritage Council.

Libby Jones

The KY Land Conservationist of the Year Award Honoree 2019

Libby Jones and her husband, former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones, founded Airdrie Stud Farm in 1972 and later permanently protected the farm through a conservation easement with Bluegrass Land Conservancy. Libby Jones is a founding director of Bluegrass Land Conservancy, a director of American Farmland Trust, a director of the P.A.C.E. Board, a trustee emerita of the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation, and a Midway University trustee. The Joneses have two children: Lucy and Bret, who is married to Tyler Bell Jones; along with three grandchildren: "B", Jack, and Thomas who are their pride and joy.

Hugh Archer

The Mary Louise Allen Memorial Award Honoree 2019

Hugh Archer has been a tireless leader with the Kentucky Natural Lands Trust since its inception. He served many years as its Board Chair and then as its Executive Director. He currently serves as the Senior Project Specialist. Hugh was the firest paid director of the KY Chapter of the Nature Conservancy helping to establish 16 new nature preserves. He was the first Director of the Kentucky River Authority and was Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources from 1998 to 2004. He was General Counsel/Executive Consultant for PlanGraphic, Inc., and provided GIS constulting services in over 40 states and provinces. He serves on numerous conservation boards including Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund Board. He graduated from UK in 1973 with a BA in Philosphy and from the UK College of Law in 1976.

Edward "Ned" Bonnie

The KY Land Conservationist of the Year Award Honoree 2018

Ned was an integral part of the land conservation community in Kentucky for more than 50 years. In 1968, Ned championed the adoption of county-wide planning and zoning for Oldham County because it would benefit “the total community.” He was a founding Board Member of the Harrods Creek Land Trust, later known as Oldham Ahead, which sought to protect through active land use advocacy. With his guidance, Oldham Ahead transformed into the Limestone Land Trust, with a nine-county service area prior to merging with Bluegrass Conservancy. Ned and his wife Nina placed a conservation easement on Stonelea Farm in 2012, permanently protecting 524 acres of land in the Harrods Creek watershed in 2012.