Date:
6/17/2004 12:00:00 AM
Title:
Montana Ranch is ESAP Region V Honoree
Barthelmess Ranch Corporation Wins Top Environmental Award
Washington, D.C. (June 17, 2004) – The Barthelmess family ranch in Malta, Montana, has been selected as the regional winners of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP), administered by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). The family is one of seven regional winners nationwide, and represents NCBA’s Region V, which includes six rocky mountain and northwestern states. Leo Sr. and Mary Emily Barthelmess and their sons Chris and Leo Jr. have established a partnership that makes up Barthelmess Ranch Corporation. They were nominated by the Montana Stockgrowers Association.
This annual award program recognizes cattle producers whose stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservation. In its 14th year, the program is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences LLC and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of USDA. The recipients of this top U.S. beef industry environmental award are selected by a committee of representatives from university faculty, federal and state government agencies, and conservation and environmental organizations.
The Barthelmess Ranch Corporation is located on the glacial plains of Montana and consists of 12,000 acres of private property, 11,000 acres of federal land, and 1,700 acres of state leases, which runs 600 head of commercial cows and 350 sheep. Additional enterprises include forage production for the livestock, native grass seed production and a custom combining business.
”The entire family is involved in the business and dedicated to conservation,” exclaims Megan Tipton, NCBA’s Associate Director of Environmental Affairs and manager of ESAP. “Mr. and Mrs. Barthelmess purchased the ranch in 1964, and it has been thriving ever since.”
Through the implementation of effective rotational grazing methods, the family has seen a large improvement in the native range, contributing to increased forage and vegetative cover for wildlife. Rangeland is also chiseled to increase water infiltration and to control such invasive and harmful plant species as club moss. Additionally, practices have been put into place to conserve both energy and water resources on the ranch. The result of the combined stewardship practices have shown to dramatically increase both big game habitat and upland bird and waterfowl habitat while also improving range conditions.
“The level of stewardship and innovation demonstrated by this family operation provides a sterling example of ranchers as conservationists of both biodiversity and rural communities,” says Linda Poole of The Nature Conservancy of Montana. “The Barthelmess family provides leadership that is forward-thinking, community-minded and solution-oriented.”
The Barthelmess Ranch was one of the first to complete the Undaunted Stewardship Land Certification Program, which serves to recognize ranches that sustain the long-term productivity of Montana’s grazing lands. In an effort to demonstrate to other producers the importance of environmental stewardship, they have also hosted several range tours on the ranch.
“We always make time to explain what we are doing and invite people to come and see for themselves,” says Leo Barthelmess Jr. “The more we communicate our progress, the more interest the ranch creates, which serves to benefit everyone.”
In the process of achieving their stewardship goals, the Barthelmess Ranch has worked extensively with many groups, including the Bureau of Land Management, Ducks Unlimited, MT Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Montana State University Extension, MT Stockgrowers Assn, Phillips County Conservation District, Undaunted Stewardship and NRCS.
The Barthelmess Ranch Corporation 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 Washington office at 202-347-0228.
~ visit our web site at www.beefusa.org or http://hill.beef.org/esap~
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is the largest organization representing America’s cattle industry. Initiated in 1898, NCBA is the industry leader in education, influencing public policy to improve producer profitability and in preserving the industry’s heritage and future. Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or membership@beef.org.