Noble Land Stewardship Award
Why your support matters.
In 1945, oilman and conservationist Lloyd Noble founded The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation in response to the devastation of the Dust Bowl. He believed that restoring the health of the land was essential to rebuilding the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers — and to securing the future of our nation. For decades, the Foundation advanced the mission through agricultural research, education, and producer support. That legacy evolved into a new era with the formation of the Noble Research Institute, a dedicated 501(c)(3), public charity focused on regenerative land stewardship. Today, the Noble Foundation and Noble Research Institute work together to further the vision of Lloyd Noble of healthy soil for our nation’s food production, thriving producers, and resilient communities.
Noble Research Institute continues its support of producers with the Noble Land Stewardship Award, an annual honor that recognizes and celebrates farmers, ranchers and landowners who are restoring the ecological health of their land with measurable, integrity-driven results. This award recognizes and uplifts those who are regenerating soil, water and wildlife habitat on grazing lands, showing that ecological responsibility and agricultural profitability go hand-in-hand.
The Noble Land Stewardship Award will be presented on October 21, 2026, in Ardmore, Oklahoma during Roots & Revelry — a signature event celebrating Noble’s anniversary and the enduring legacy of its founder. There, we will gather with producers, partners and supporters to recognize a land steward who exemplifies Noble’s mission in action.
About the Award
The Noble Land Stewardship Award celebrates farmers, ranchers and landowners who demonstrate:
Healthier soil and more productive grazing land through regenerative practices
Improved water retention, quality and infiltration
Increased biodiversity and restored habitat
A commitment to sharing knowledge and mentoring others
Award Presentation at Roots & Revelry
Congratulations to Black Leg Ranch and the Doan Family. Jerry Doan represented his family and received the award on October 21, 2026, in Ardmore, Oklahoma, during Noble Research Institute’s annual Roots & Revelry event.
Black Leg Ranch and the Doan Family
Founded in 1882, when Jerry Doan’s great-grandfather homesteaded in what was then Dakota Territory, Black Leg Ranch is a multigenerational family operation near McKenzie, North Dakota, with roots stretching back more than 140 years. Today, the ranch encompasses 21,000 acres in the Missouri Coteau, a landscape of native prairie, wetlands and waterways within the Missouri River watershed. The Doan family manages cattle, yearlings and bison alongside several complementary enterprises, including custom grazing, hunting and agritourism, ranch-raised beef and bison, and a brewery.
For decades, the Doans have worked to improve the land through planned rotational grazing, extended rest and recovery, no-till farming, diverse cover crops and investments in water infrastructure. Those efforts have increased plant diversity, improved water infiltration and ground cover, expanded wildlife habitat and helped the ranch remain resilient through drought. The family has also established more than 3,000 acres of wetlands and partnered with universities, conservation organizations and government agencies on research and projects involving soil health, grasslands, wildlife and water quality.
Black Leg Ranch has also become a place for others to learn. The Doan family regularly hosts producers, researchers, students, conservation professionals and agricultural leaders to share what they have learned about regenerative ranching, profitability and bringing the next generation back to the operation. Their commitment to caring for the land while building an operation capable of supporting future generations reflects the spirit of the 2026 Noble Land Stewardship Award.
Past Recipient
2025: G Bar C Ranch and the Ellis Family