Van Wert couple named Environmental Stewardship Award winners
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ron and Carla Young of Buckeye Acres in Van Wert have been named winners of the 2009 Environmental Stewardship Award by the Ohio Livestock Coalition (OLC) and the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association.
The Environmental Stewardship Award annually recognizes the many accomplishments made by family farmers to protect the environment and conserve natural resources.
The Young family has been involved in the production of purebred sheep for more than 30 years, and over time, has transferred from a grain-fed purebred Suffolk herd to a pasture-based hair breed herd.
Through a number of federal conservation programs, the Youngs have established filter strips and grass waterways on their land to reduce erosion and runoff and improve water quality. Field borders have also been established in permanent vegetation. Participation in the Environmental Quality Incentive Program has helped the farm improve the distribution of water for sheep by installing pipelines and watering facilities to maximize forage utilization in the field. The improved forage production on the farm protects and improves the plants, soil, water, wildlife habitat and sheep production.
The Youngs received a plaque from the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association and a proclamation of congratulations and recognition of their commitment to the basic principles of environmental and natural resource stewardship from Gov. Ted Strickland.
"Ron and Carla have incorporated various management practices that protect and enhance the environment and precious natural resources while ensuring productivity and profitability," said Ohio Livestock Executive Director Sandy Kuhn. "In doing so, they have minimized their operation's footprint on the environment by working to preserve and improve water and air quality, to protect the land and to promote wildlife."
OLC coordinates the Environmental Stewardship awards program while seven cooperating member organizations ’Äì the Ohio Cattlemen's Association, Ohio Dairy Producers Association, Ohio Pork Producers Council, Ohio Poultry Association, Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, Ohio Soybean Association and Ohio Corn Growers Association ’Äì sponsor the individual commodity awards along with Ohio's Country Journal.