11/13/2009 9:58:00 PM Farm Bureau honors Yavapai County residents
Courtesy photo
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick and other Farm Bureau officials presented awards to Orme Ranch managers Alan and Diana Kessler.
Courtesy photo
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick and other Farm Bureau officials presents an award to Courier reporter Joanna Dodder Nellans.
CAREFREE - Several Yavapai County residents were among those receiving Arizona Farm Bureau awards Thursday night at the group's annual convention in Carefree.
Orme Ranch managers Alan and Diana Kessler received the Heritage Award for their involvement in numerous groups that promote and protect agriculture. The nomination cited their out-of-the-box thinking that builds relationships with government agencies and the public.
They are featured in a book titled "Beyond the Rangeland Conflict."
Jake Fousek of the Arizona Game and Fish Department received the group's Environmental Stewardship Award. He has helped local ranchers with range improvements and helped write grants for water improvements. These activities aid wildlife as well as livestock management.
Joanna Dodder Nellans of The Daily Courier newspaper received the group's only Print Media Award. The award cites her "fair and timely reporting of agricultural issues."
Most recently, she has reported on the successful efforts of the Settler Valley Ranch in Dewey to use goats as a way to reduce wildfire danger across the Prescott region.
U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, whose district covers much of rural Arizona including Yavapai County, helped hand out the awards at the Carefree Resort & Villas.
The Rancher of the Year award went to the Knight family of Springerville, which has been battling an effort by the Forest Guardians environmental group to get its government grazing lease.
Longtime Pinal County farmer Max Koepnick was named Farmer of the Year, and the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award went to Oliver Anderson, who has been in the business since 1949.
