USPOULTRY Announces 12th Annual Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award Competition
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association is now accepting nominations for the 12th 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 14, 2012.
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 a state poultry and egg 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 in 2012. The winners were Tom and Gaylene Hesse, Hesse Farm, Cole Camp, MO, nominated by Cargill Turkey Production; Daniel and Jen Heller, Flintrock Farms, Lititz, PA, nominated by Tyson Foods, Inc.; Brian and Kelli Eglinger, Pine Draft Farm, Augusta, WV, growers for Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation and nominated by West Virginia Poultry Association ; Larry Cooley, Cooley Farms, Roberta, GA, nominated by Perdue Farms; Will and Linda Hack, Hack Farms, Turlock, CA, nominated by Foster Farms; and Wayne and Rebecca Hillman, Hillview Farms, Buckholts, TX, growers for Cargill Turkey Products and nominated by Texas Poultry Federation.
“Best management practices are utilized by poultry growers and producers, which heighten environmental stewardship on their family owned and operated farms,” said Mark Waller, Ingram Farms, Cullman, AL, and chairman of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. “The skill, inventiveness, and dedication shown through their environmental management practices every year are outstanding,” he added.
Awards will be presented during a special ceremony at the 2013 International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta. Each award winner will receive a Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award trophy, $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 2013 Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award, contact: Paul Bredwell or Marjorie Maul, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, 1530 Cooledge Road, Tucker, GA, 30084-7303; (770) 493-9401; Fax: (770) 493-9257; or e-mail: pbredwell@uspoultry.org. Competition details are also available on the USPOULTRY website, www.uspoultry.org.
