Nominate a Farmer or Rancher for National Sustainability Award

If you know a sustainable farmer or rancher who truly is outstanding in the field, on the range, or at the farmers market, you should consider nominating them for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program’s third Madden award.  Presented in memory of SARE’s first director Patrick Madden – a well-known proponent for sustainable agriculture – the award recognizes farmers and ranchers who raise food or fiber in ways that are profitable, good for families and communities, and beneficial to the environment.

Winners will receive $1,000 each and a travel scholarship to the 2006 SARE regional/national conference, “A Midwest Homecoming: Sharing a New Tradition of Sustainability” to be held August 15-17 in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. All producers farming in the United States and its protectorates are eligible, except for previous winners. The 2006 contest will recognize four winners in contests run in each SARE region.

Two SARE regions – North Central and West - are now accepting award nominations. (Other SARE regions have finished the nomination phase of their contests.) The North Central Region includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. To nominate a North Central Region farmer or rancher, go to the Region's Madden Award Nomination Forms Website.

The Western Region includes: Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Micronesia, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. To nominate a Western Region farmer or rancher, go to the SARE Western Region's Madden Award Nomination Forms Website.

Self-nominations will not be considered. Past winners of the biennial contest include Tom Trantham, a South Carolina dairy producer in 2002; and Jean-Paul Courtens, a New York vegetable farmer, Peter Kenagy, an Oregon vegetable farmer and Ron Macher, a Missouri diversified crop/livestock farmer in 2004 (three winners in 2004).  Learn more about the award and past winners by calling 301-504-5230.

About SARE
Since 1988, SARE has helped advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities through a nationwide grants program. The program, administered by  CSREES and USDA, funds projects and conducts outreach designed to improve agricultural systems and natural resources.

NRCS field office professionals frequently collaborate on SARE-funded projects and are valuable partners to the SARE program. NRCS staff serve on SARE’s national Operations Committee, on regional Administrative Councils, on State committees and are actively engaged as technical advisers and collaborators on SARE-funded research grants around the U.S.

For more information, visit the SARE website or for more information about the regional SARE programs, click on the region area of the map below.

Your contact is Diana Friedman, SARE research associate, at 301-504-6422.