Environmental Stewardship Newsroom

2026 Environmental Stewardship Award Program Regional Winners Announced

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0600

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Aug. 5, 2026) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is proud to announce the 2026 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) Regional winners. Recipients are recognized for their commitment to conservation and stewardship. The national winner, which will be selected from these seven regional recipients, will be announced during CattleCon 2027 in Nashville, Tennessee, in February.

“These regional winners 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 ESAP Regional winners are:

Region I: LB Porteus Farms, Coshocton, Ohio

In the 1880s, the Porteus family put down roots in the Muskingum River Valley of east-central Ohio. Today, the fifth and sixth generations lead the cattle and cropping operations and continue a long tradition of sustainability through a business commitment to economic viability, resource conservation, nutrient management, water quality, and adoption of research-driven production practices. The family’s 900-head capacity state-of-the-art feeding facility includes a robotic and AI-supported feeding system, as well as a unique manure storage component to increase nutrient content. These technological advancements significantly decrease the labor, energy and emissions profile of the operation. Sustainability extends beyond production practices to include education, transparency and youth development. The family actively welcomes opportunities to share their sustainability story, helping build trust and understanding with consumers and neighbors.

Region II: Donaldson Farms/D&D Meats, Celina, Tennessee

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.

Region III: Feikema Farms, Inc., Luverne, Minnesota

Feikema Farms started in 1950 as a small dairy and crop farm then transitioned to a beef feedyard when brothers Bob and Chuck returned home after finishing their military assignments. Now, the third generation of farmers, Shawn and Mike, are managing the 4,000-head capacity feedlot. A devastating flood in 2014 was a turning point as the aftermath left impacts of runoff and erosion. Over the years, the Feikemas implemented basins and tiling to protect waterways and keep their fields from washing out, and they began composting manure and utilizing a large stacking pad for manure as well. Today, their business focuses on targeted, steady growth, top yields through excellent crop management, exceptional animal husbandry, land stewardship practices that build fertility and reduce erosion, and building long-term working relationships with partners.

Region IV: Bloody Buckets Cattle Company, Falfurrias, Texas

The Clement family behind Bloody Buckets Cattle Company represents eight generations of military service and more than 400 years of land stewardship. The ranch’s name honors its deep ties and four generations of the family’s military service to the U.S. Army’s 28th Infantry Division. When James “Jim” Clement returned from service during World War II, he worked for King Ranch, then started Los Hermanos Ranch in 1963. Today, James Clement III and his family partner with father and son, Dr. Alfonso Ortega, Sr. and Dr. Poncho Ortega Jr., to manage 15,000 acres in the challenging South Texas brush country. Together, the families have built a resilient, sustainable operation that prioritizes land health over short-term production by restoring degraded ground, using adaptive grazing, and investing in infrastructure that supports both cattle and wildlife.

Region V: V Box Land and Livestock, Juntura, Oregon

Through disciplined management, strategic expansion and taking bold risks, Mike and Linda Bentz combined four separate ranches into one exceptional operation — notable for its size, productivity and continuity. V Box Land and Livestock encompasses nearly 28,000 private acres and 180,000 acres of public lands. When Mike tragically passed in 2015, Linda and her five children continued the cow-calf operation. Through Linda’s leadership, more than 6,000 acres of western juniper were removed, 16,000 acres of invasive annual grasses treated, 10,000 feet of riverbank restored, and nearly 4,000 willows and native shrubs planted. These efforts improved water quality, enhanced sage grouse habitat, reduced wildfire risk, and strengthened long-term forage productivity. Today, the ranch is divided into separate operations for the next generation, and all five children and their families are ranching and carrying forward the conservation ethic instilled by their parents.

Region VI: Munns Flying M Ranch, Snowville, Utah

In the harsh high desert of northern Utah, Tim and Laurie Munns have developed a thriving ranching business through hard work and effective stewardship. Munns Flying M Ranch is a cow-calf operation encompassing 22,000 deeded acres and 5,000 acres of leased private land, in addition to grazing permits with government and tribal partners. The family focuses on improving livestock watering systems to distribute water and improve cattle grazing, controlling noxious weeds and pests, controlling brush and weeds to increase the perennial grass forage base, and partnering with wildlife and land management agencies. Their commitment to continual learning and innovation has reduced winter feed costs, strengthened plant vigor and improved overall rangeland health, which benefits wildlife habitat as well as ranch profitability. The Munns are also committed to sharing their story with fellow producers and educating consumers how cattle producers can be good stewards of the land.

Region VII: Stomprud Angus Ranch, Mud Butte, South Dakota

Established in 1909, Stomprud Angus Ranch is a multi‑generation, family‑owned Angus cow-calf operation located in the remote range of western South Dakota. Larry and his wife Eileen care for the operation alongside their son Jay and daughter‑in‑law Jennifer, with support from their grandchildren. Together, the third, fourth and fifth generations work side by side to care for the land entrusted to them by those who came before, ensuring it remains productive and resilient for generations to come. Sustainability is approached with a long‑term, holistic mindset grounded in three core pillars of family, environment and financial viability. Rotational grazing allows grasses to rest and rebuild strong root systems, while a deep well pipeline delivers clean water across the ranch, easing pressure on creeks and riparian areas. Wildlife-friendly fencing keeps antelope moving freely across the landscape, and a later calving season reduces stress, lowers feed needs, and improves calf health. Together, these decisions protect habitat, conserve water, and keep a working prairie functioning as it should.

Established in 1991 by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to recognize outstanding land stewards in the cattle industry, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) is generously sponsored by Corteva Agriscience and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information, visit www.environmentalstewardship.org.

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Prestigious Environmental Stewardship Award Presented to Ohio Farm

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0600

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Aug. 5, 2026) – LB Porteus Farms in Coshocton, Ohio, 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

“The Porteus family understands that farming in this landscape [within a watershed] carries both opportunity and responsibility,” said Cathann A. Kress, vice president for agriculture and dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. “Their attention to nutrient management, runoff control, and soil structure reflects a deep commitment to protecting shared water resources while sustaining a productive agricultural operation.”

“For our family, the ultimate outcome of how we choose to manage land and water resources is our sustainability story, and it is shared by what the world sees as they drive by,” said Brent Porteus. “Raising mother cows and their offspring with care for both them and the land they graze is our priority.”

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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Prestigious Environmental Stewardship Award Presented to Tennessee Farm

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0600

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.

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.”

“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.”

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Prestigious Environmental Stewardship Award Presented to Minnesota Farm

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0600

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Aug. 5, 2026) – Feikema Farms, Inc. in Luverne, Minnesota, 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.

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

“Feikema Farms stands as a model of responsible and forward-thinking land management,” said USDA-NRCS District Conservationist Dylan J. Bartels. “Their use of advanced techniques including crop rotation, cover crops, and strip-tillage has significantly improved soil health and reduced erosion, ensuring the land will continue to thrive for future generations.”

“We strive for excellence in production, management and stewardship through the wise use of our resources,” said Shawn Feikema. “Our goal is to make a positive impact on our families, our employees and our community, treating everyone with fairness and respect.”

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Prestigious Environmental Stewardship Award Presented to Texas Ranch

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0600

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Aug. 5, 2026) – Bloody Buckets Cattle Company in Falfurrias, Texas, 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.

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

“[Bloody Buckets Cattle Company] is a testament to the idea that environmental stewardship and economic viability go hand in hand,” said Fidel Hernandez, research scientist and regents professor with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. “By focusing on long-term rangeland health, maintaining a low-input operation, and integrating wildlife conservation, the ranch has built a profitable and resilient ranching model that will sustain future generations.”

“Without question, our sustainability practices have improved margins across the operation. We see it in higher weaning rates, healthier cattle, more resilient wildlife populations and a ranch that performs better through drought,” said James Clement III. “The economics and the ecology are reinforcing one another.”

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Prestigious Environmental Stewardship Award Presented to Oregon Ranch

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0600

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Aug. 5, 2026) – V Box Land and Livestock in Juntura, Oregon, 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.

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

“V Box Land and Livestock represents the very best of the beef industry through unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and leadership in implementing science-based management practices that conserve rangeland health, soil, water and wildlife resources,” said Sergio Arispe, associate professor with Oregon State University. “Linda Bentz has demonstrated that responsible cattle production and environmental stewardship are complementary principles essential to sustaining both working lands and rural communities.”

“It’s God’s land; it’s just here for us to utilize,” said Linda Bentz. “The story will tell whether you took care of it or not. The cows won’t be happy, the families won’t be happy, and they won’t continue to move on.”

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Prestigious Environmental Stewardship Award Presented to Utah Ranch

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0600

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Aug. 5, 2026) – Munns Flying M Ranch in Snowville, Utah, 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.

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

“From wildlife-friendly infrastructure to drought management through grazing intensities, [Tim and Laurie Munns] continually seek out approaches that will enhance all aspects of their operation and the natural ecosystem, which they work with in symbiosis,” said Ashley McDonald, executive director of the National Grazing Lands Coalition. “These efforts have enhanced wildlife habitat, protected and enhanced water quality, and contributed to the preservation and improvement of our nation’s public land and open space, all the while improving and ensuring the transfer of the operation to the next generation of their family.”

“The old saying is, ‘Take care of the land, and it’ll take care of you,’” says Tim Munns. “It means being stewards of the land and doing the right thing when it needs to be done.”

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Prestigious Environmental Stewardship Award Presented to South Dakota Ranch

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0600

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Aug. 5, 2026) – Stomprud Angus Ranch in Mud Butte, South Dakota, 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.

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

“It is difficult to imagine a ranch with operators who have a more sincere, focused and educational interest in conservation and natural resource stewardship than Stomprud Angus Ranch,” said Dennis Unkenholz, retired South Dakota Fisheries chief. “Not only do they share results of their conservation efforts that may benefit others, but also to learn more about conservation practices they may benefit from.”

“Having this legacy that you are responsible for is powerful,” said Jen Stomprud. “You know the stewardship aspect of being responsible for the land and then the animals and protecting it and making it the best it could be.”

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National Environmental Stewardship Award Presented to Nebraska Ranch

Mon, 9 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0700

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 3, 2026) - The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced today that Wine Glass Ranch in Imperial, Nebraska, is the 2025 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 the Pribbeno family, during CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.

“This ranch has been in my family for 140 years, and we are the stewards of the ground,” said Logan Pribbeno with Wine Glass Ranch. “We are grazing the best and leaving the rest for the benefit of our soil health.”

Jeff and Connie Pribbeno and their son and daughter-in-law Logan and Brianna Pribbeno own and operate Wine Glass Ranch, located in western Nebraska near the Colorado border. The Pribbenos believe long-term care for their operation's ecology translates to profitability, which is why they have married together the values of ranching for profit and environmental stewardship to make a living.

The cow-calf, stocker and grain operation thrives despite the arid climate and fragile sandy soil. The family installed more than 200 miles of cross fence, creating 90 paddocks for their rotational grazing system. At any given point, 95% of the ranch is resting, and this practice has increased plant diversity and the return of native grasses such as Sand Bluestem and Indian grass, a species difficult to grow in sandy soil. With a focus on soil health, the Pribbenos work closely with several state and federal agencies on conservation projects, and those partnerships have helped them with their stewardship efforts.

“You don’t build something like this without a lot of thinking and dreaming and sharing it together,” reflected Pribbeno. “Achieving these goals together; there’s nothing better.”

Established in 1991, ESAP identifies outstanding land stewards in the cattle industry. Each year, regional award winners are recognized, and one is honored as the national winner.

2025 Regional Winners:

Region I: Whispering Hills Farm, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky

Region II: M&D Overstreet Ranch, Kathleen, Florida

Region III: Smith Family Farms, Bankston, Iowa

Region IV: McFaddin Ranch, Victoria, Texas

Region V: G&G Livestock and Cathey Cattle Company, Polson, Montana

Region VII: Wine Glass Ranch, Imperial, Nebraska

Previous National ESAP Honorees:

2024: Downey Ranch, Kansas

2023: G Bar C Ranch, Texas

2022: Carter Cattle Company, LLC, Alabama

2021: JY Ferry & Son, Inc., Utah

2020: Beatty Canyon Ranch, Colorado

ESAP is generously sponsored by companies and federal agencies who share the cattle industry’s commitment to caring for the environment and protecting natural resources. Sponsors including U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Corteva Agriscience, and 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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