The Lakeland Times

Joe and Mary Hovel of Conover, Wisconsin, received the 2024 Land Legacy Award from Gathering Waters: Wisconsin's Alliance for Land Trusts on Oct. 26 during a special event at Trees for Tomorrow in Eagle River. The Land Legacy Award recognizes individuals whose extraordinary generosity and leadership have significantly benefited land conservation in Wisconsin.

The Hovels have worked for decades to conserve and protect land in the Border Lakes region of Wisconsin, as well as in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and in Wisconsin's Central Sands region. Together, they have raised public awareness of the importance of land conservation and served as watchdogs for land use. They have negotiated and facilitated the purchase and sale of land and conservation easements, working with conservation groups and government agencies such as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Forest Service.

The Hovels are both involved in the Partners in Forestry Landowner Cooperative, an organization that assists members in the sustainable management of woodlands. Their selfless, tireless, and savvy efforts have brought numerous conservation projects across the finish line, sometimes when funding and support were scarce.

Notable projects the Hovels have been involved in that created or protected public access while conserving valuable ecosystems include the Headwater Cedars Community Forest, the Wildcat Falls Community Forest, the Pilgrim River Watershed Project, and the Upper Wisconsin River Legacy Forest, among others. They also advocated for the Pelican River Forest, the largest land conservation project in state history.

In total, the Hovels have directly implemented, or supported through advocacy, the conservation of tens of thousands of acres across the region. Their actions have led many others to recognize the value of land conservation and join forces to achieve lasting results.

"The Hovels are guided by the core belief that land protection matters," said Mike Carlson, executive director of Gathering Waters. "Their dedication, persistence, and expertise have allowed them to accomplish so much for land conservation in the state and beyond. They are role models in the conservation community, and we're so grateful for their leadership."