Trailblazer Award

Honoring Ernest Bufford: Conservation Leadership Rooted in Legacy Ernest Bufford was selected as the recipient of this prestigious award in recognition of his unwavering dedication to land preservation, environmental stewardship, and sustainable ranching practices. His decades of work protecting Buffords Ranch—more than 900 acres of diverse terrain in Kern County—reflects a lifelong commitment to safeguarding California’s natural heritage.This award is presented in the name of Col. Charles Young, a pioneering African American military officer, diplomat, and early conservationist who played a key role in the early development of the National Park Service. Like Col. Young, Ernest Bufford has shown that true leadership in conservation means preserving land not just for present use, but for the benefit of future generations.The honor is also aligned with the mission of the 40 ACRE Conservation League, a group inspired by the unfulfilled promise of “40 acres and a mule” made to freed African Americans after the Civil War. The League seeks to empower a new era of land ownership, stewardship, and conservation in historically underserved communities.Through his work, Ernest Bufford exemplifies the values of resilience, responsibility, and reverence for the land—creating a lasting legacy that honors both the environment and the historical roots of conservation justice.2/2