U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) is now accepting nominations for the 2024 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 family-owned poultry grower or egg producer supplying product to a USPOULTRY member or an independent producer who is a USPOULTRY member. Nominations are due Oct. 27.
In January 2023, the award was presented to four outstanding family farmers in various regions of the country: Mid-Atlantic, South Central, Southeast and Southwest. In addition, an award was also presented to a State Poultry Association nominee. The winners were David and Melanie Parham, Parham’s Pullets, Dresden, Tenn., nominated by the Tennessee Poultry Association; Craig and Mindy Fruechte, Fruechte Turkey Farms, Decatur, Ind., nominated by Cooper Farms; Glenn and Tracey Backes, Backes Turkey Farm, Eldon, Mo., nominated by Cargill; Tim Morrison, Morrison Poultry, LLC, Wingo, Ky., nominated by Tyson Foods; and Kevin and Kim Doyle, KD Farm, Stillwell, Okla., nominated by Cargill.
Five additional farms were presented with an award for being selected as a finalist. They were Mark and Alana Yoder and Sarah Yoder, Brush Creek Henhouse LLC, Leon, Iowa, nominated by the North Central Poultry Association; Kevin and Lora Foltz, Foltz Farm K LLC, Mathis, W.V., nominated by Cargill; Norbet and Susan Gabel, Gabel Farm, Galena, Mo., nominated by Cargill; Dustin and Jason Hagan, Hagan Brothers Farm, Whitesville, Ky., nominated by Perdue Foods; and Mike Thompson, C&M Poultry, Mt. Pleasant, Texas, nominated by Pilgrim’s.
Nominations for the 2024 competition may be made by a USPOULTRY member, an affiliated state poultry association, or by a poultry or egg producer that grows poultry or produces eggs for a USPOULTRY member. Each integrator or egg processor may nominate two growers or producers for each processing facility in each state that they operate. Previous winners must wait three years before resubmitting an application.
"Poultry growers regularly utilize best management practices to heighten environmental stewardship on their farms. The dedication and ingenuity that our award winners and finalists exhibit each year through their environmental management practices is admirable," said Jarod Morrison, Farbest Foods, and USPOULTRY chairman.
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