TUCKER, GA. — Nominations for the 9th Annual Family Farm Environmental Excellence Awards are now being accepted by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. Exemplary environmental stewardship by family farmers engaged in poultry and egg production are recognized by the awards.

Eligible contenders include any poultry grower or egg producer (family-owned) who supplies product to a USPOULTRY member, or an independent producer who is a USPOULTRY member. Nominations are due no later than Sept. 1.

Superior family farmers in five regions of the country will receive this award. One award may be presented for the Northeast, Southeast, South Central, North Central and West regions. Nominations must be made by a member by completing the application provided by USPOULTRY. Each integrator or egg processor may nominate one grower for each complex in each state.

In 2009, six families received the Environmental Excellence Award. The winners were Neil and Gina Boeckman Turkey and Swine Farm, Celina, Ohio, nominated by Cooper Farms; William and Jackie Woolf, Middon Manor Farm, Weyers Cave, Va., nominated by George’s Inc.; Jim and Linda Davis, Terrace Farms, Lexington, N.C., nominated by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation; Glenn and Kathy Robertson, Robertson Turkey Farms, Loose Creek, Mo., nominated by Cargill Turkey Products; Jim and Mattie Crouch, Crouch Farms, Howe, Okla., nominated by OK Farms; and Tim Nilsen, Nilsen Farms, Wilton, Calif., nominated by Foster Farms.

"Every day, thousands of poultry growers and producers are employing best-management practices that embrace environmental stewardship on their family-owned-and-operated farms," said Monty Henderson, George’s Inc., Springdale, Ark., chairman of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. "But the innovation, creativity, resourcefulness, and dedication our award-winners exhibit each year in pursuing excellent environmental stewardship is remarkable."

Awards will be presented during a special ceremony at the 2010 International Poultry Expo in Atlanta. Each winner will receive a Family Farm Environmental Excellence trophy, $1,000 cash, an expenses-paid trip to the Expo, a farm profile on USPOULTRY’s Web site and the association’s assistance in local, regional and national publicity.

For more information, contact Paul Bredwell or Elaine Hilliard, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, 1530 Cooledge Road, Tucker, Ga., 30084-7303; (770) 493-9401; Fax (770) 493-9257; or E-mail

Competition details are available on the USPOULTRY web site,