Ron and Darla Giordano Awarded Gathering Waters Land Legacy Award
Press Release from Gathering Waters. Photo by Mike Foy
May 14, 2026
Gathering Waters is excited to announce the winners of the 2026 Land Conservation Leadership Awards!
The awards recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals and organizations that devote their time and talents to protecting Wisconsin’s land, water, and wildlife. We look forward to presenting the winners with their awards at events throughout the year.
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.
About The Prairie Enthusiasts
The Prairie Enthusiasts is an accredited land trust that seeks to ensure the perpetuation and recovery of prairie, oak savanna, and other fire-dependent ecosystems of the Upper Midwest through protection, management, restoration, and education. In doing so, they strive to work openly and cooperatively with private landowners and other private and public conservation groups. Their management and stewardship centers on high-quality remnants, which contain nearly all the components of endangered prairie communities.