Luke Benson

I grew up in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and while I always enjoyed spending time outside fishing, hiking and camping, I didn’t envision a career in conservation until later in life. I spent my teens and twenties working in restaurants as a line cook and a chef. Sustainability was always a focus for me in and out of restaurants which led to a deep interest in foraging and regenerative agriculture. When I finally decided to return to school to pursue a career in conservation through a degree in natural resource management at Hawkeye Community College and was introduced to the writing of Aldo Leopold, I found that my values were already aligned with the land ethic he laid out in his writing. I also uncovered a love of environmental education, outreach and communication that I hope to carry through the rest of my career.

In my role as a communications fellow, I am eager to learn and develop skills that will allow me to help spread the message of the land ethic to people around the world. I also look forward to exploring the opportunities offered through the foundation to grow my understanding of my personal land ethic as well as growing as a future leader in conservation. Additionally, I’m excited to explore and recreate in the natural areas of Wisconsin, primarily the trout streams!