Pennsylvania Farm is ESAP Region I Honoree  

McElhaney Family Farm Wins Top Environmental Award

Washington, D.C. (June 22, 2004)  Richard and Kay McElhaney and family, of Hookstown, Pennsylvania, have been selected as regional winners of the 2004 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP).The farm is one of seven regional winners nationwide. The prestigious program is in its 14th year, and is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences L.L.C and the Natural Resources Conservation Service of USDA.

The annual award program recognizes cattle producers across the nation whose stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservation.  Administered by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), the McElhaneys are the sole representative of NCBA's Region I, which includes 17 mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states.  They were nominated by the USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in Pennsylvania.

"This award honors the overlooked environmentalists."explains Megan Tipton, coordinator of the program, "People who spend their lives working the land embody the true nature of conservation and for this Pennsylvania family, Earth Day is every day. Farming is a lifetime spent outdoors, working with natural resources. This innovative stock farm demonstrates how today's landowners utilize creative technologies and innovations to run a profitable but environmentally-friendly business."

McElhaney Stock Farm is a family-owned and operated business, raising 100 head of Registered Shorthorn cattle. The farm is genuinely suited to a grazing operation with its meandering streams, gentle sloping hillsides and the high erodibility of soil.  Through the McElhaney's care and love of the land, they have protected the farm's fragile nature, having converted from crops to total forage production.  Rotational grazing, broadcast/frost seeding, conservation tillage practices and riparian buffers are all a part of the valuable conservation systems on the farm.  

The McElhaneys manage a breeding program and produce beef for packaging, sale and distribution to private individuals. The operation is part of a four-farm cooperative known as Mid Atlantic Genetic Productions, and has also become a popular place for weddings and receptions.

"We are lucky to have someone like Dick that we can count on when we want to demonstrate new conservation ideas," says Robin Heard, NRCS State Conservationist in Pennsylvania.  "He is a strong supporter of the grazing message and is always willing to host tours for other farmers and interested parties.  We appreciate his conviction to conservation and his willingness to share the economic benefit of his grazing program."

Since 1975, the McElhaneys have volunteered to work extensively with many partners to improve and protect the land and water for which they are responsible.  The family has reached out to work with the Soil Conservation Service, SW Pennsylvania Project Grass, the Environmental Protection Program, NRCS, the Farm Service Agency, PA Department of Agriculture, PA Forage and Grassland Council, PA Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, and many more.
Participation in all of these programs has allowed the farm to grow and profit while protecting the environment.  As a result, they have been able to produce higher-quality and more efficient forage and watering systems, while observing an abundant increase in wildlife habitat. The farm is a leader in the industry, combining progressive cattle production with strong environmental practices, while maintaining a seamless union between profitability and production.

"My family wants to be the best stewards of the land that we can be, and still make some money in the process," says Dick McElhaney.  "We believe these two things go hand-in-hand."

The McElhaney Stock Farm will be formally recognized as a regional ESAP winner at the 2004 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver, Colorado on August 11th. One of the seven regional winners will be selected as the national winner, announced in January 2005. For additional information on this family or other regional winners, contact NCBA's D.C. office at 202-347-0228.

Award History

Now in its seventeenth year, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) has annually recognized the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of U.S. cattle producers from across the nation. Regional and national award winners have been commended for their commitment to protecting the environment and improving fish and wildlife habitats while operating profitable cattle operations. The common trait among all winners is the desire to leave the land in better shape for future generations while also inspiring the next generation of land stewards.

While the program highlights stewardship, it also provides fellow cattle producers with examples and ideas which may be useful on their own farm and ranching operations.

Nominations can be submitted by any organization, group, or individual on behalf of a U.S. cattle producer. In the past, nominations have been submitted by a diverse mix of organizations. A partial list includes: The Nature Conservancy, NRCS, Society for Range Management, state games and parks services, state extension services, universities, wildlife organizations, and all types of livestock groups.

ESAP winners are selected annually by the ESAP Selection Committee, a group of representatives from universities, conservation organizations and federal and state agencies. For guidance, the judges consider the management of water, wildlife, vegetation, air, and soil along with leadership abilities and the sustainability of the business as a whole.

Nominees will be competing for one of seven regional awards based on their state of residency. After the application deadline, the ESAP Selection Committee meets to decide upon the regional winners. From the regional winners, one national winner is then selected later in the year.

The Environmental Stewardship Award Program was established in 1991 by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Dow AgroSciences LLC and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of the United States Department of Agriculture.