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Applications Are Now Open
We are accepting applications for the 2012 award group. Read the flyer for more information.
Who Is Eligible?
- active animal producers (as the owner, manager, co-owner or co-manager)
- young or beginning producers (generally someone who is under 35-40 years of age OR has 10 or less years of experience)
Through 2012 we are emphasizing animal (livestock or poultry) agriculture operations. Crop producers that utilize manure in their system or have other animal agriculture connections are welcome to apply.
You can be large or small, "organic" or "conventional", specialized or diverse. We hope to recognize a cross-section of modern animal agriculture.
What Do I Receive As An Environmental Leader?
See the flyer for a full description. You will receive a $500 travel scholarship to Agriculture's Promise. This meeting is generally held in April each year. Another event can be substituted if your schedule does not allow travel to Agriculture's Promise.
The project team will also develop a news release and provide it to local media and local organizations in which you are involved. Other state or national ag publications will also be contacted.
Lastly, we believe the knowledge gained and leadership skills developed in this award program will be invaluable for the rest of your farm/ranch career. You will meet other proactive farmers and ranchers and interact with lawmakers during your visit to our nation's capitol. Through your outreach, you will help more people understand the real-world decisions made by those producing food, fuel and fiber.
What Is Required to Become an Environmental Leader?
See the award checklist. The program has three basic components:
- Education--choose from online modules, self-study, or other educational opportunities
- Implement--develop an environmental policy statement for your farm/ranch, and implement one or more positive stewardship practices. This could be a physical practice (install a manure storage pad, on-farm research, etc.) or a management practice (develop a plan, conduct an environmental assessment, improve your record keeping system, etc.).
- Outreach--tell someone about what you have done.
This is not a competition with other applicants. Everyone who completes their plan of work will receive the "Environmental Leader Award".
How Do I Apply?
Is There a Deadline for Applications?
The environmental leaders award is an "open enrollment" process. You are welcome to apply at any time. As much as possible we will help you complete activities in time to receive the award in April following your application. If it is not possible to complete everything before April, you will be eligible for the award the following year. For example, if you apply in March, 2012, you are likely to receive your award in April, 2013.
For More Information
For more information about this program, please contact Thomas Bass tmbass@montana.edu. The first award was given in April, 2011 to Peter Juergens, Iowa Read more...
Acknowledgements
This program is supported by the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under award #2009-49400-05871.The Environmental Leaders Award program is a part of the Building Environmental Leaders in Animal Agriculture project.
This program is being funded through 2012 by a grant from the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA). After that time, NYFEA will be seeking sponsorships to continue the program.
