17 August 2009

2 minute read

North America

The award, now in its 20th year, recognizes producers at the regional and national level who demonstrate outstanding stewardship practices and wildlife habitat improvement, while maintaining profitable cattle operations, reports the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

“Cattle producers doing good things for the environment isn’t unusual, but their efforts often go unnoticed,” says Dave Petty, the Eldora, Iowa cattleman who chairs the selection panel. Petty was the national winner in 2001. “By recognizing our best stewards, we encourage other producers, and we show the public some real positive things going on across the country – things that are done by a lot of cattle producers.”

Any organization, group, or individual may nominate a U.S. cattle producer. From the field of nominees, seven regional winners are selected by an expert panel representing the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), conservation and sportsmen’s groups, federal and state agencies, and land grant universities.

Judges consider the management of water, wildlife, vegetation, air and soil, as well as the nominees’ leadership and the sustainability of the business as a whole. Regional winners will be announced in July 2010. From the seven regional winners, judges will choose a national winner to be announced at the Cattle Industry Annual Convention in January 2011.

“Producers are the original, true environmentalists,” said Petty. “Winners of the award set an example for fellow producers by demonstrating successful management practices that not only benefit the environment, but also help their bottom line.”

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