SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Feb. 6, 2025) – Producers, students and advocates were recognized as the “Best of Beef” through a variety of scholarship and award programs during CattleCon 2025, held Feb. 4-6 in San Antonio.
2024 Environmental Stewardship Award Program Winners
The Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP), which annually recognizes outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of cattle producers, honored regional winners, including:
- Region I: Angus Glen Farms, LLC, Watkins Glen, New York
- Region II: Kempfer Cattle Company, Deer Park, Florida
- Region III: Little Timber Farms, Blackduck, Minnesota
- Region IV: Blue Ranch, Moore County, Texas
- Region V: LeValley Ranch, Hotchkiss, Colorado
- Region VI: Cottonwood Ranch, Wells, Nevada
- Region VII: Downey Ranch, Wamego, Kansas (National Winner)
Downey Ranch in Kansas was also recognized as the 2024 ESAP National winner. 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, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Cattlemen’s Foundation partner with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) to promote environmental stewardship throughout the beef supply chain.
Beef Quality Assurance Awards
The Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards, sponsored by Cargill, Sam’s Club and Certified Angus Beef, annually recognize outstanding beef and dairy producers, marketers and educators. Winners not only demonstrate high-quality animal care and handling principles as part of their day-to-day operations but also express a strong desire to continually improve their operations through BQA. The 2025 honorees include:
- Cow-Calf Award: Parker Ranch, Hawaii
- Dairy FARM Award: VanBedaf Dairy, North Dakota
- Feedyard Award: Grimmius Feeder, California
- Marketer Award: Producers Livestock Market, Utah
- Educator Award: Dr. Keith Belk, Colorado
W.D. Farr Scholarships
The W.D. Farr Scholarship, established in 2007, recognizes superior achievement in academics and leadership, and allows graduate students to further their study in fields that benefit the cattle and beef industry. Each $15,000 scholarship recognizes outstanding students who plan to pursue careers in furthering the beef industry. The 2024 recipients are:
- Conrad Schelkopf of Geneva, Nebraska
Kansas State University - Tyler Thomas of Baker City, Oregon
Colorado State University
CME Group Beef Industry Scholarships
Ten students pursuing careers in the beef industry were awarded $1,500 scholarships by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. The CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship program recognizes talented and thoughtful students emerging as industry leaders. The 2025 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship recipients include:
- Mattie Flohr of Danville, Indiana, Oklahoma State University
- Bennett Gordon of Whitewood, South Dakota, Oklahoma State University
- Mia Jess of Lubbock, Texas, Texas Tech University
- Ty Jones of Scottsville, Kentucky, Oklahoma State University
- Taylor Lacek of Brookings, South Dakota, South Dakota State University
- Chase Litton of Boonville, Missouri, Oklahoma State University
- Whitney Peck of Fredonia, Kentucky, University of Kentucky
- Hailey Rydberg of Essex, Iowa, University of Northern Iowa
- Wyatt Stowell of Fox Lake, Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin River Falls
- Spencer Walahoski of Overton, Nebraska, West Texas A&M University
Greg Henderson Excellence in Agricultural Journalism Award
This award recognizes agricultural journalists who exemplify the values Greg Henderson championed throughout his career. Greg was known for his courage in addressing challenging industry issues, his unwavering commitment to fairness, accuracy, and honesty, and his advocacy for positive change in agriculture. He built deep personal connections to the agricultural community, earning the respect of farmers, ranchers, and fellow media professionals alike. This award celebrates those who embody these principles and carry forward his legacy of impactful journalism in service to agriculture.
The inaugural recipient, Ron Hays, has set the standard for excellence in agricultural reporting through his outstanding work with the Oklahoma Farm Report. With a career spanning more than four decades, Ron has become a trusted voice for producers, known for his ability to deliver accurate, timely, and insightful information on critical issues affecting the cattle and beef industry. His dedication to fostering understanding, advocating for agriculture, and maintaining a deep connection to the community he serves reflects the very essence of this award. Ron’s work has earned him the respect and admiration of farmers, ranchers and colleagues alike, making him a truly deserving recipient of this prestigious honor.
Masters of Beef Advocacy Program Advocate of the Year
NCBA’s Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program, funded by the Beef Checkoff, has selected Texas rancher, Emma Coffman, as the 2024 Advocate of the Year. This honor is given annually to an outstanding beef advocate to recognize success in engaging consumers who want to learn more about beef and raising cattle. Emma Coffman is the owner of Double E Ranch Advocacy LLC, where she is dedicated to bridging the gap between urban and rural communities through education and storytelling. With a deep passion for agriculture, Emma strives to showcase the science, dedication, and passion behind food and fiber production.
For more information, visit www.ncba.org.
