Albertans have until Feb. 28 to submit a nomination
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is accepting nominations for its 2023 Environmental Stewardship Award.
Producers can nominate themselves or one another for the award and the organization presents it to “the beef producer who best exemplifies environmentally sustainable cattle production,” the award’s description says.
The nomination window closes on Feb. 28, 2023, at 11:59 PM.
Nomination forms are available at the ABP office or local delegates.
Farmers can also access the form online.
“The nomination form will pop up (online) and basically is asking for a description of your farm and ranch, including the environment where it operates and any historical information (about) what you’ve done, or what you’re doing, or planning to do with your management plan including your energy, water, land (or) wildlife,” Sheila Hillmer, vice chair of ABP, told CKFM.
ABP gave out its first award in 1992 to Francis and Bonnie Gardner, owners and operators of Mt. Sentinel Ranch near Chain Lakes, Alta.
Jerry and Dawn Baerg, who own and operate Ribbon Creek Ranch near Linden, Alta., won the most recent award in 2022.
Making improvements to the environment takes continuous work, Jerry said.
“It’s constant observation,” he said in the 2022 video highlighting Ribbon Creek Ranch for its win. “Has it made a positive or negative impact on the land?”
Winners of the Environmental Stewardship Award will receive a commemorative gate sign and an all-expenses paid trip to the 2023 Alberta Beef Industry Summit in Calgary.
In addition, the provincial winner will compete at the national level during the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in August 2023.
Doug and Erika Fossen of Bar 7 Ranch in B.C. won the national award in 2022.
Alberta farmers last won the national award in 2014.
The McGrath family of Round Rock Ranching in Vermilion won it that year.