Environmental Stewardship Award Nominations Now Being Accepted

Washington, DC (Oct. 4, 2001) -- Applications are now being accepted for the 12th Annual Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said today. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2002.

Sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, the ESAP recognizes cattle producers who use innovative practices to protect and enhance natural resources while maintaining or increasing the profitability of their businesses.

Any group or organization is eligible to nominate one individual/business; however, the nominee must raise or feed cattle. Individuals and families may not nominate themselves. Nominees need not be NCBA members, but they must support the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s mission: A dynamic and profitable beef industry, which concentrates resources around a unified plan, consistently meets global consumer needs and increases demand.

All nominees will compete for one of seven regional awards based on the state of residency of the nominees; the seven regional winners will then compete for the national award.

“NCBA and Dow AgroSciences believe cattle producers are the original stewards of the environment,” said Stephanie Tinsley, NCBA’s Environmental Stewardship Award Program coordinator. “We encourage all state affiliates, state beef councils, industry partners and breed organizations to submit a nomination this year. It's an excellent way to recognize the ongoing commitment cattlemen have to their operations and the world around them."

For more information visit hill.beef.org/esap or contact:

Stephanie Tinsley

Coordinator, Environmental Issues

National Cattlemen's Beef Association

1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20004

(202) 347-0228

stinsley@beef.org

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Producer-directed and consumer-focused, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the trade association of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers, and the marketing organization for the largest segment of the nation’s food and fiber industry.