For Immediate Release   CONTACT:    Jonathan Beitia              (303) 850-3392               jbeitia@beef.org Bethany Shively             (202) 347-0228               bshively@beef.org   Cattle Industry Opens Nominations for 20th Annual Environmental Stewardship Award Nominations made on behalf of U.S. beef producers due Feb. 24, 2010   Denver, Colo. (Aug. 13, 2009) – Nominations for the annual Environmental Stewardship Awards are now open for 2010. 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.   “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.”   The program is funded by Dow AgroSciences and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information, including examples of past winners, visit: www.EnvironmentalStewardship.org or contact the National Cattlemen’s Foundation at (303) 694-0305.   ###   The National Cattlemen's Foundation advances the future of the beef industry with passion and urgency. For more information visit www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org.