Grandfather Presents: Buddy Huffaker and Stan Temple

Buddy Huffaker joined the Aldo Leopold Foundation in 1996 as a seasonal intern and has served as Executive Director since 1999.  During his tenure, the foundation has grown into a national conservation organization with international reach, realizing the potential of a Land Ethic.

Through educational and on-the-ground initiatives, Buddy’s leadership of the foundation furthers the Leopold family’s enduring legacy—a commitment to care for nature and inspire others to do the same. Buddy led the construction of the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, a testament to energy efficiency and sense of place. The building is certified LEED Platinum and constructed from trees planted by Aldo Leopold and his family.

He leads the preservation of the Leopold Shack & Farm, a National Historic Landmark and setting of Leopold’s masterpiece, “A Sand County Almanac,” as well as land care of the surrounding 4,000-acre Leopold-Pines Conservation Area. He produced the Emmy Award-winning documentary “Green Fire” and supported ten different foreign translations of Leopold’s famous book. Buddy’s leadership in the conservation movement includes service on state and federal advisory committees and participation in three White House Conferences on conservation and environmental education.

Dr. Stanley A. Temple is the Beers-Bascom Professor Emeritus in Conservation in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For 32 years he held the academic position once occupied by Aldo Leopold, and during that time he won every teaching award for which he was eligible. He and his students have helped save many of the world’s endangered species and the habitats on which they depend.

He is currently a Senior Fellow with the Aldo Leopold Foundation, where he leads crane tours and introduces Future Leaders Fellows to Leopold’s history, phenology, and wildlife ecology. He has also been a core contributor to the yearly Wisconsin Phenology Calendar. He has received conservation awards from the Society for Conservation Biology, The Wildlife Society, and Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. He is a Fellow of the American Ornithologists’ Union, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. He has been President of the Society for Conservation Biology and Chairman of the Board of The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame in 2020.

The Aug. 20 presentation is titled “Aldo Leopold’s Legacy: A conversation on land ethic and conservation.” Join a fireside chat with Huffaker, Temple (joining virtually) and Jesse Pope, president and CEO of Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation on endangered species and the land ethic. Temple will share stories from his lifetime of work on conservation efforts to save endangered species across the world, including one right here at Grandfather Mountain. Huffaker and Pope will chat about Leopold’s Land Ethic today, why it continues to be important and what challenges are being faced at Grandfather.

Considered by many to be the father of wildlife ecology and modern conservation, Aldo Leopold was a forester, philosopher, conservationist, educator, writer and outdoor enthusiast. Among Aldo Leopold’s best-known ideas is the “land ethic,” which calls for an ethical, caring relationship between people and nature. This land ethic continues to inform the work, values and goals at the Aldo Leopold Foundation today, just as it informs the work of countless individuals and organizations worldwide.

Aldo Leopold’s “A Sand County Almanac” will be on sale at the event.

First published by Oxford University Press in 1949, Aldo Leopold’s “A Sand County Almanac” has become a conservation classic, selling over 2 million copies worldwide and being translated into 15 languages. The Aldo Leopold Foundation’s mission is to foster a land ethic through the legacy of Aldo Leopold. Inspired by his profound vision, the organization seeks to cultivate an understanding and appreciation of our relationship with the environment on all levels, be it individuals or entire communities. Learn more about the Aldo Leopold Foundation by visiting aldoleopold.org.

Tickets go on sale online for this event here at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 19.

Grandfather Presents Schedule

• 8 a.m. | Grandfather Mountain opens for the day, and “VIP Reception” ticket holders are allowed access to the park. Your event ticket will be scanned at one of our ticket booths at the entrance gate.
• 4:45 p.m. | “Presentation” ticket holders are allowed to enter the park and are welcome to explore the Conservation Campus (Wilson Center, Mildred the Bear Environmental Habitats and more) prior to the speaker presentation. Your event ticket will be scanned at one of our ticket booths at the entrance gate.
• 4:45 – 5:45 p.m. | Check-in for all event attendees near the front entrance of the Wilson Center (to receive your wristband for the event)
• 5 – 5:30 p.m. | “VIP” Reception in the Wilson Center (“VIP Reception” ticket holders only)
• 5:45 – 6:45 p.m. | Speaker presentation in the Classroom in the Clouds
• 6:45 – 7:30 p.m. | Meet-and-greet/book signing with speaker
• 7:45 p.m. | Park should be clear of all Grandfather Presents guests.

Grandfather Presents Tickets
Two tiers of ticket access are offered for Grandfather Presents events.

“VIP Reception” tickets include a VIP reception with the guest speaker that features heavy hors d’oeuvres, in addition to the program and the “meet-and-greet/book signing” session after the event. Admission to the park for the day is also included.

• $60 “VIP Reception” Adult
• $51 “VIP Reception” Bridge Club Member (limited quantity available)

“Presentation” tickets are a more cost-effective option and include only the speaker’s program and the “meet-and-greet/book signing” session after the event.

• $25 “Presentation” Adult
• $20 “Presentation” Bridge Club Member
• Children under 12 are admitted free with a paying adult (maximum of four free children per purchase).

Bridge Club Members, click here to purchase VIP Reception tickets.
You will need to use your Bridge Club member number (located on your card below the barcode) to purchase.

Non-Bridge Club Members, click here to purchase VIP Reception tickets.

Bridge Club Members, click here to purchase Presentation tickets.
You will need to use your Bridge Club member number (located on your card below the barcode) to purchase.

Non-Bridge Club Members, click here to purchase Presentation tickets.

Refunds/Cancellations
Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out to us at least five days before the event (midnight, Aug. 15). This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. To cancel your registration, please call 828-833-6332 Monday – Friday between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. or email judi@grandfather.com.