Cattle producers from across the country were recognized during the industry’s Summer Business Meeting in San Diego through the 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). Regional award recipients were honored for their commitment to conservation and stewardship. The national winner will be announced during CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, in February.
“It is an honor to recognize these cattle producers for their commitment to conservation,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein. “Not only are they protecting natural resources for future generations, but they also serve as stewardship role models for producers across the country.”
Regional ESAP winners undertake stewardship efforts unique to their environment, landscape and resources. The 2025 ESAP Regional winners are:
Region I: Whispering Hills Farm, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Mike Wilson took a neglected and overgrown farm in the heart of Kentucky and gave it life. He carefully crafted his operation around the limitations of the land and resources, and adapted when necessary to make it a thriving, profitable operation that can be passed down to the next generation of stewards. Wilson is an active participant in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) as well as the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to implement a variety of practices including pipeline, heavy use area protection, watering troughs, fencing, and forage and biomass plantings to help facilitate prescribed grazing. In addition to livestock related enhancements, he is an advocate for keeping the balance between agriculture and wildlife. He has partnered with state foresters to improve woodland, and he removes invasive species to enhance plant diversity. Wilson continues to serve as a role model to fellow cattle producers, influencing them to take positive steps towards stewardship and conservation efforts.
Region II: M&D Overstreet Ranch, Kathleen, Florida
M&D Overstreet Ranch sits at an urban-wildland interface in central Florida, surrounded by one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. The Overstreet’s story is one of endurance, responsibility and a deep-rooted belief in leaving the land better than they found it. Mark Overstreet, paralyzed from the waist down since 1970, has never let his disability keep him from stewarding the land. With modified equipment, sheer determination and an unbreakable spirit, he continues to oversee rotational grazing, soil restoration and water conservation projects that benefit not just the cattle, but all of Florida. M&D Overstreet Ranch uses controlled burns to restore native grasslands, lime rock lakes to recharge the aquifer, and wildlife corridors to protect species like deer, turkeys and wading birds. Overstreet remains a mentor and advocate, proving that true leadership isn’t about personal success, it’s about lifting others up. His work ensures that Florida’s ranching traditions, environmental stewardship and community values will endure for generations to come.
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