Joel Leland

In his role as a Dairy Program Specialist on the North America Agriculture Program, Joel helps agricultural professionals understand and navigate dairy sustainability practices, opportunities, and programs. The focus area of his work is currently Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Prior to this role, he supported the Sustainable Agriculture team at the Michigan chapter as a Conservation Associate, working primarily in the Saginaw Bay Watershed with both dairy farmers for the “Feed-in Focus” program and wheat farmers for the “Sustainable Options: Wheat” program.

Prior to joining TNC, Joel worked as a critical partner delivering the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance (MAEAP) program in the Saginaw River Watershed. Joel holds dual degrees from Baker College—an Associate of Applied Science & Agricultural Technology in Animal Science (Summa Cum Laude) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (Magna Cum Laude). Joel was born and raised on a small farm in Shiawassee County where his family had a small dairy operation and farmed 300 acres. Although the cows are gone and the farm was condensed down, Joel took over managing the farm about a decade ago. Joel’s farm is MAEAP verified and he practices conservation by having buffer strips along county drains and wood edges.