2022 Environmental Stewardship Award Program Regional Winners

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) recognized seven of the nation’s top cattle operations as Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) regional winners for their environmental conservation efforts during the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans in February. The regional winners will compete for the national award, which will be presented during NCBA’s Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., April 24-26, 2023.

The ESAP Award is a prestigious award to honor the dedication and commitment of cattle producers to safeguarding their land and natural resources for generations to come. The recipients use innovative technologies and methodologies to not only sustain the quality of their rangeland and soil, but also to improve it.

“Farming and ranching families across the country continue to incorporate practices that protect and preserve land and water resources for future generations,” said NCBA Past President Don Schiefelbein. “These regional winners represent the cattle industry’s commitment to environmental stewardship.”

Regional ESAP winners come from every corner of the country and undertake stewardship efforts unique to their environment, landscape and resources. The 2022 regional winners are:

Region I: Lamb Farms, Inc., Oakfield, New York

Region II: Carter Cattle Company, LLC, Pintlala, Alabama

Region III: Huth Polled Herefords and S&H Livestock Enterprises, LLC, Oakfield, Wisconsin

Region IV: Parks Ranch, Goliad County, Texas

Region V: Mannix Brothers Ranch, Helmville, Montana

Region VI: Fulstone Ranches, Smith, Nevada

Region VII: Jorgensen Land & Cattle Partnership, Ideal, South Dakota

Established in 1991 by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to recognize outstanding land stewards in the cattle industry, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) is generously sponsored by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Corteva Agriscience, McDonald’s, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. For more information, visit www.environmentalstewardship.org.

AQHA Ranching Heritage Programs: As Versatile as the American Quarter Horse

From the American Quarter Horse Association

The versatile ranch horse is the backbone of the American Quarter Horse breed, and the American Quarter Horse Association celebrates this history through a number of programs, competitions and awards.

Ranching Heritage Breeders

The AQHA Ranching Heritage program is a nomination-based breeder referral program. Working cattle ranches that breed American Quarter Horses for ranch work can apply and must be accepted into the Ranching Heritage program. To become an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder, ranches must:

• Be members of AQHA.

• Breed at least five American Quarter Horses per year.

• The ranch must have received at least an AQHA 10-year breeder award.

The AQHA Ranching Committee and AQHA Executive Committee review the applications and accept new ranches, which then pay a fee of $25 per year to be a part of the program. Ranching Heritage Breeders are entitled to use a special logo on their advertising, and that logo also appears on the AQHA registration certificates of horses bred by Ranching Heritage Breeders. All horses bred by the ranches are eligible for the Ranching Heritage program.

Horses in the Ranching Heritage program must pay enrollment fees to be fully enrolled. Once enrolled, it is good for the lifetime of the horse. This allows the horse to be eligible for exclusive events open only to Ranching Heritage horses.

AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenges

Held regionally around the United States, Ranching Heritage Challenges offer an exclusive place for Ranching Heritage horses to compete. In addition to the regional events, competitors are invited to the year-end AQHA Ranching Heritage Challenge Finals. Classes are offered to different levels of riders and ages of horses and include:

• Working ranch horse

• Limited working ranch horse (box-drive-box-drive)

• Ranch riding

• Ranch cutting

• Team roping

• Barrel racing

• Breakaway roping

• Steer stopping

AQHA

Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program

The AQHA Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program showcases stock being bred and raised by AQHA Ranching Heritage members by matching donated weanlings with American Quarter Horse Youth Association members. Youth in this program are engaged in the horse industry at a fundamental level that is both fun and educational.

Participating Ranching Heritage breeders donate young horses for Young Horse Development participants to raise and train. Young horsemen and -women learn responsibility and goal setting, important components of horse ownership, and life skills. Encouraged by good fun, as well as key education in the horse industry, youth learn to raise and train their weanlings.

Ranching Heritage Awards

AQHA Ranching Heritage awards recognize various facets of ranching and breeding.

AQHA Best Remuda Award: The oldest and most prestigious ranching award, AQHA created the Best Remuda Award to honor the contributions that ranch horses have made to the heritage of the American Quarter Horse. Any Ranching Heritage Breeder that is a member of AQHA and produces five or more registered American Quarter Horses per year for ranch work is eligible for this award.

AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders of the Year: Nominees for the AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder of the Year award are chosen by their peers, with the winner chosen by vote of the AQHA Ranching Committee.

RHB Top Horse Awards: Given out at major industry events, the Ranching Heritage Top-Horse Awards spotlight Ranching Heritage-bred horses with a $250 cash prize and trophy to the owner and $250 to the horse’s breeder. If the award is offered at an event, all enrolled Ranching Heritage-bred horses are automatically eligible for the prize, which is given to the horse that places the highest while defeating the most horses.

AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder Top Production Sale Award: This award recognizes ranchers who have been producing quality horses and their dedication to promoting the breed.

Learn more about AQHA’s Ranching Heritage Programs at www.aqha.com/ranching and become an AQHA member at www.aqha. com/join to participate.