U.S. Poultry & Egg Association is now accepting nominations for the 13th annual Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award. The award recognizes exemplary environmental stewardship by family farmers engaged in poultry and egg production. Those eligible for the award include any poultry grower or egg producer (family-owned) who supply product to a USPOULTRY member or an independent producer who is a USPOULTRY member. Nominations are due September 13, 2013.
The award is presented to superior family farmers in six regions of the country. One award may be presented for each of the regions: Northeast, Southeast, South Central, North Central, Southwest and the remainder of the United States. Nominations must be made by a USPOULTRY member or an affiliated state poultry association by completing the application provided by USPOULTRY. Each integrator or egg processor may nominate one grower for each complex in each state.
Six families received the Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award for 2013. The winners were Bill Knapke, Meiring Poultry Farm, Ft. Recovery, Ohio, nominated by Ohio Poultry Association; Craig Miller, Miller Farm, Harrisonburg, Va., nominated by Cargill Turkey Production; David and Jo Warnke, Warnke Farm, Stover, Mo., nominated by Cargill Turkey Production LLC; Garry Staple, White Acres Farm, Steele, Ala., nominated by Pilgrim's; Ramiro and Ruth Rosales, Texas Pride Poultry, Clifton, Texas, nominated by Cargill Turkey Production; and Jeff Cederlind, Cederlind Farm, Winton, Calif., nominated by Foster Farms.
"Poultry growers and producers utilize best management practices that enhance environmental stewardship on their family owned and operated farms. The innovation, resourcefulness and dedication our award winners exhibit each year in pursuing excellent environmental management is exceptional," said James Adams, Wenger Feeds, Rheems, Pa., and chairman of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.
Awards will be presented during a special ceremony at the 2014 International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga. Each award winner will receive a Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award sign to display near the entrance of the farm, $1,000 cash, an expense-paid trip to the Expo, a farm profile on USPOULTRY's website, and the association's assistance in local, regional and national publicity.
For more information on the 2014 Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award, contact: Paul Bredwell or Marjorie Maul, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, 1530 Cooledge Road, Tucker, GA, 30084-7303; +1.678.514.1973; Fax: +1.770.493.9257; or e-mail: [email protected]. Competition details are also available on the USPOULTRY website.
