National Pork Board Honors the 2009 Pork Industry Environmental Steward Award Winners

published on 03/05/2010

The National Pork Board will recognize the latest class of Environmental Steward Award winners at the National Pork Industry Forum in Kansas City, Mo., today.  These winners exemplify excellence in environmental care and conservation in pork production.

"The National Pork Industry Forum provides a great opportunity for these producers to be recognized by their peers," said Tim Bierman, a producer from Larrabee, Iowa, and National Pork Board president.  "It is important to recognize the positive environmental impact pork producers can have.  Pork producers are natural protectors of the environment because they realize that taking good care of the environmental and natural resources is not only the right thing to do, but it's also smart business. Honoring these producers at Forum allows other producers to get excited about this program."

To be honored this year at the ceremony are:

• JAC Pork of Hartley, Iowa, represented by Roger and Renee Nath;

• Schafer Farms of Goodhue, Minn., represented by Brandon and Monica Schafer;

• Bryant Worley Farms of Princeton, N.C., represented by Bryant and Debbie Worley;

• Sensenig Farm of Mohnton, Pa., represented by Lowell and Janet Sensenig.

Environmental steward award winners receive a plaque in recognition for their strong environmental ethics. Their stories were featured in National Hog Farmer magazine, which co-sponsors the awards program, in the Pork Checkoff Report and in an educational video produced and distributed by the National Pork Board.

"The environmental stewards are the greatest spokespeople for the pork industry and the environment," said Bierman.  "I would encourage all producers to find out how to participate in the environmental stewards program. The program will allow them to become involved and to make a difference."

The National Pork Board is receiving applications and nominations for 2010 Pork Industry Environmental Steward Award winners.  The deadline is April 30, 2010.  The next class of environmental stewards will be honored at the National Pork Industry Forum in 2011. More information, as well as applications, can be found online at pork.org, or by calling (800) 456-PORK. 

The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-PORK or check the Internet at www.pork.org.

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Note to media:  Pork producers are available to interview about this story.  To arrange for an interview, please contact Cindy Cunningham, assistant vice president of communications at the National Pork Board, at 515-223-2600.