Prestigious Environmental Stewardship Award Presented to Tennessee Farm

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Aug. 5, 2026) –Donaldson Farms/D&D Meats in Celina, Tennessee, was recognized today by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) as a 2026 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) Regional winner. Established in 1991, ESAP celebrates outstanding land stewards in the cattle industry. The national winner, which will be selected from these seven regional winners, will be announced during CattleCon 2027 in Nashville, Tennessee, in February.

“These award recipients undertake stewardship efforts unique to their environment, landscape and resources, and they share their learnings with fellow producers,” said NCBA President Gene Copenhaver. “Their dedication to conserving natural resources is ensuring a bright future for the next generation.”

The 2026 Environmental Stewardship Award Program Regional winners are:

• Region I: LB Porteus Farms, Coshocton, Ohio
  
• Region II: Donaldson Farms/D&D Meats, Celina, Tennessee
  
• Region III: Feikema Farms, Inc., Luverne, Minnesota
  
• Region IV: Bloody Buckets Cattle Company, Falfurrias, Texas
  
• Region V: V Box Land and Livestock, Juntura, Oregon
  
• Region VI: Munns Flying M Ranch, Snowville, Utah
• Region VII: Stomprud Angus Ranch, Mud Butte, South Dakota
  

“Donaldson Farms prioritizes animal welfare, soil health and water quality through thoughtful management practices that include rotational grazing, cover crops and riparian buffers,” said Bryan Wright, executive vice president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation. “These efforts support resilient pastures, improved soil structure, and reduced runoff, contributing to the protection of surrounding natural resources.”

With agricultural roots dating back to 1820, Donaldson Farms/D&D Meats is a vertically integrated operation that includes cow-calf, backgrounding and USDA-inspected processing facilities. The family focuses on key objectives including facilitating low-stress livestock movement, ensuring connectivity to central infrastructure, minimizing environmental impact, protecting state and federal waters, enhancing forage production, and fostering operational sustainability. Through nutrient management, prescribed grazing, use of cover crops and limiting access to surface water, Donaldson Farms is restoring pasture productivity, protecting riparian corridors, and improving grazing efficiency. In addition, the family is creating a viable operation for the next generation to stay within agriculture.

“Our success is driven by long-term planning, technical expertise, partnerships with conservation agencies, family commitment and a willingness to innovate,” said John Dolaldson. “Our sustainability strategy is founded on the belief that environmental stewardship, economic resilience, family continuity, and regulatory compliance must operate together to ensure long-term success.”

ESAP is generously sponsored by organizations that share the cattle industry’s commitment to caring for the environment and protecting natural resources. Sponsors including Corteva Agriscience and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partner with NCBA to promote environmental stewardship throughout the beef supply chain. For more information, visit www.environmentalstewardship.org.

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