Industry Honors 2008 Environmental Steward Award Winners

Friday, March 06, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cindy Cunningham 515-223-2600
CCunningham@Pork.org 

National Pork Board Honors the 2008 Pork Industry Environmental Steward Award Winners

The National Pork Board will recognize the latest class of Environmental Steward Award winners at the National Pork Industry Forum in Dallas, Texas, today.  These winners exemplify excellence in environmental care and conservation in pork production.

"The National Pork Industry Forum provides a great opportunity for these producers to be recognized by their peers," said Steve Weaver, a producer from Elk Grove, Calif., and National Pork Board president.  "It is important to recognize the positive environmental impact pork producers can have.  Honoring these producers at Forum allows other producers to get excited about this program."

To be honored this year at the ceremony are:

• Enterprise Nurseries of Madrid, Neb., represented by John Csukker and Jill Goedeken;

• Oetting Farms of Concordia, Mo., represented by Sharon and Steve Oetting;

• O'Neel Farms of Friend, Neb., represented by Terry and Diane O'Neel and family;

• Veldkamp Farms of Jasper, Minn., represented by Jim and JoAnn Veldkamp.

Environmental steward award winners receive a plaque in recognition for their strong environmental ethics. Their stories were featured in National Hog Farmer magazine, which co-sponsors the awards program, in the Pork Checkoff Report and in an educational video produced and distributed by the National Pork Board.

"The environmental stewards are the greatest spokespeople for the pork industry and the environment," said Weaver.  "I would encourage all producers to find out how to participate in the environmental stewards program. The program will allow them to become involved and to make a difference."

The National Pork Board is receiving applications and nominations for 2009 Pork Industry Environmental Steward Award winners.  The deadline is March 31, 2009.  The next class of environmental stewards will be honored at the National Pork Industry Forum in 2010. More information, as well as applications, can be found online at pork.org, or by calling (800) 456-PORK. 

The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. Through a legislative national Pork Checkoff, pork producers invest $0.40 for each $100 value of hogs sold. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. For information on Checkoff-funded programs, pork producers can call the Pork Checkoff Service Center at (800) 456-PORK or check the Internet at www.pork.org.

 Note to media:  Pork producers are available to interview about this story.  To arrange for an interview, please contact Cindy Cunningham, assistant vice president of communications at the National Pork Board, at 515-223-2600.