Members of the National Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) selection committee are proud to announce this year's seven regional winners. This marks the 14th annual team of winners, an exceptional achievement award recognizing operations that use innovative practices to protect and enhance natural resources, while at the same time maintaining or increasing profitability.

The 2004 Regional Winners are:
•Region I: McElhaney Stock Farm, Hookstown, Pennsylvania
•Region II: Williamson Cattle Company, Okeechobee, Florida
•Region III: White Family Farms, Estherville, Iowa
•Region IV: Chain Land and Cattle Company, Canton, Oklahoma
•Region V: Barthelmess Ranch, Malta, Montana
•Region VI: DC Cattle Co. L.L.C, Globe, Arizona
•Region VII: Gerald Roise Ranch, Powers Lake, North Dakota

“We are very excited about the caliber of this year's regional winners,” says Megan Tipton, of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and coordinator of the ESAP program. “This group represents diverse geographical areas across the country, and many generations of families who are generously giving back to the land that was given to them.”

Sponsored by Dow AgroSciences and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and administered by NCBA, this award program recognizes cattle producers whose stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservation. The recipients of this top environmental award are selected by a committee consisting of past winners, university faculty, key representatives of federal and state government agencies, conservation and environmental organizations.
“Those who spend their lives working the land embody the true nature of conservation,” explains Tipton. “Every day is spent outdoors with natural resources, and our ESAP winners are role models for all of us. They demonstrate how today's landowners utilize creative technologies and innovations to run a viable, profitable, and environmentally-friendly operation.”

The regional award winners are formally recognized at the 2004 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver, Colorado. ©