Stoney Creek Farm in Redwood Falls was selected as one of six regional honorees of the National Cattlemen’s Environmental Stewardship Award Program.

The award, announced during the recent 2016 Cattle Industry Summer business meeting, recognizes the outstanding stewardship and conservation efforts. This year’s regional winners will compete for the national award, which will be announced during the Annual Cattle Industry Convention in February 2017.

Photo credit: Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association

Stoney Creek Farm, owned by Gant and Dawn Breitkreutz, is a third generation commercial Red Angus farm and custom baling business. The family grazes 138 cows on 465 acres of permanent pasture land and feeds 750 head of cattle annually. The Breitkreutz family also farms 250 acres of no-till corn and soybeans and wheat and 50 acres of alfalfa.

“Grant and Dawn have been innovators of integrating cattle and prescribed grazing systems into conservation farming practices in the state of Minnesota,” said Ashley Kohls, Minnesota Cattlemen’s Association executive director. “The countless hours they spend learning more about sustainable farming practices are matched by the number of hours they spend promoting these practices and the culture of conservation to both fellow cattlemen as well as consumers.”

The Breitkreutzs work with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to implement numerous conservation practices to sustainably increase production and improve soil health. By implementing a strategic prescribed grazing plan, they have improved the health of their pastures and went from grazing 58 cow/calf pairs on 128 acres three months of the year to grazing 120 or more pairs for six months of the year.

The environmental stewardship award, established in 1991 by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, USDA NRCS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation.