Environmental Stewardship

We know that we are only successful when we take the best possible care of the natural resources with which we’ve been entrusted.

Learn About Us ///Join the Association

Congratulations to our 2024 ESAP Regional Winners!

Read about them here!

^{2024 ESAP National Winner}

Congratulations to Downey Ranch and the Downey/Carpenter Family!

Wamego, Kansas

Watch Their Story

We're taking a closer look at the Environmental Stewardship Awards Program and the impact it has on the long term success of the beef industry. We'll hear from some past ESAP winners and get their thoughts on the value of the program.

We're bringing you a behind the scenes look at the Environmental Stewardship Awards Program and the selection process for the regional winners of the award. We'll also examine why the stewardship program - and the operations it honors - is important to the beef industry.

Winner Gallery

Now in its 34th year, the Environmental Stewardship Award has annually recognized the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of U.S. cattle producers from across the nation. Check out our gallery!

View the Gallery

Thank You Sponsors!

We appreciate all of our wonderful sponsors who make this program possible!

Learn More

2023 NATIONAL WINNER

G Bar C Ranch - Rosston, TX

watch their story

February 5, 2025

Kansas Ranch Honored with National Environmental Stewardship Award

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced today that Downey Ranch in Wamego, Kansas, is the 2024 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) National winner. The award, which annually recognizes the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers, was presented to Barb Downey and her husband, Joe Carpenter, during CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio.

July 2025

The 2025 regional winners will be announced at the Environmental Stewardship Awards Ceremony in July 2025 at the NCBA Summer Business Meeting.

San Deigo, California