Environmental Stewardship Award
Environmental Stewardship Award
The New York Beef Producers' Association recognizes beef producers who have made a positive impact on sustainability of the New York Beef Industry. NYBPA is honored to recognize operations that uphold sustainability practices in their day-to-day farms. NYBPA’s Environmental Stewardship Award is an opportunity for the NY beef industry to showcase the stewardship, conservation and business practices that work together on the farm. The award recognizes outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of Beef Producers across New York. The hope is to recognize operations with a desire to leave the land better than they found it for the next generation. At the national level, these awardees are commended for their commitment to protecting the environment and improving fish and wildlife habitats while operating profitable cattle operations. New York has multiple state winners that have gone on to be named Region 1 Environmental Stewardship Award winners by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Take a look at NCBA’s winner gallery featuring the New York Producers awarded the Region 1 award here.
If you are a NY beef producer or know a NY beef producer that exemplifies stewardship, conservation, and sustainability, we encourage you to apply for the New York Environmental Stewardship Award. No formal fillable application is needed to apply. Applications built by applicants should be sure to include the following in a written paragraph format:
1. Please identify the name of the business, the individual(s) to be recognized, address, primary contact, website, phone/fax/email.
2. A history and Description of the Operation: This section should provide a brief description of the operation’s history, business model and ecological setting. What sector(s) of the cattle industry are primary (cow/calf, stocker, etc.)? What other enterprises are associated with the cattle operation? What are the primary ecological features of the landscape (e.g. notable watersheds, geology, topography, climatic zones, water bodies, dominant wildlife species, urban/suburban interfaces and the like)? What natural resources (e.g. mining, hunting/fishing, oil/gas, timber) contribute significantly to the operation’s revenue streams? How big are the parcels of land? How much land is owned, leased (federal or otherwise)? How many beef units are raised on the operation? What is the operation’s history of ownership and business structure?
3. The environmental problem recognized on the operation: This is the most important section of the application. It should present—in a logical, systematic way—the form that “sustainability” takes in the operation’s unique ecological, economic, social and regulatory settings. What are the applicants trying to achieve and why?
4. A description of how the operation overcame the issue including details of the environmental stewardship practices. How successful have they been?
5. Statement of interest or non-interest in pursuing the national award nomination through NCBA
6. Nominating party - whether self-nominated or organizationally nominated
Angus Glen Farms is a beef cow-calf farm located on the west side of Watkins Glen (population: ~ 2,900) and Seneca Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes Region. Jim and Rose Chedzoy purchased the farm from retiring dairy farmer friends in 1987. Their oldest son, Brett, returned to the farm in 2001 with his young family and soon after established Angus Glen Farms.
Today, 500 acres of rotationally grazed pastures and silvopastures along with 450 acres of perennial hay ground support over 100 cows plus youngstock. The herd has been strictly grass-fed for the last twenty years. About half of the pasture is part of the original home farm, and the balance is leased from neighboring farms. Hay ground is leased through mostly long-term agreements that allow the investment in improving the land over time, mainly through a three-year rotation of liming, fertilizing and frost-seeding legumes.
Angus Glen Farms borders the Watkins Glen State Park Gorge for over one mile and drains directly into Glen Creek and Seneca Lake two miles below. Two million visitors come to the park each year, making it New York’s second most popular state park after Niagara Falls. Protecting this unique landscape and watershed through sound and compatible farming practices is of the upmost importance to the farm family.
Hidden Canyon Farm is owned and operated by Steve and Sue Olson where they primarily raise Angus, Red Angus, and Hereford cattle with an all-natural finished feedlot. Located in Lyons, NY between Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes Region in Wayne County. Not far from the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, a major flyover zone to many migratory birds, the Olsons pride themselves, and have been awarded multiple times, for their conservation efforts.
Conservation is the key to the success of Hidden Canyon Farm to which they leverage rotational grazing, access control to streams and wetlands, barnyard management and waste storage, nutrient management plan, and implementation of cover crops. The Olsons are enrolled in several programs such as the Environmental Quality Program, Conservations Stewardship Program and a Forest Land Practices Program.
Heavily involved in Wayne County and New York State Conservation boards and programs, the Olsons lead by example. The Olsons have provided tremendous expertise on the beef industry through sharing best practices through their experience and sharing their farm for educational opportunities and events.