15th Annual National Environmental Stewardship Award Winner Named

members of the Lightsey family -- winners of the 15th Annual National Environmental Stewardship Award

The Lightsey Cattle Company was recently announced as the 2005 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) national winner. The prestigious award program, sponsored by NRCS, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), and Dow AgroSciences, is now in its 15th year.

“The Lightsey family ranches in the Lake Wales, Florida, area stand as a testament to their extensive and innovative efforts to conserve and protect the land,” observed Niles Glasgow, Florida NRCS State Conservationist. “They have been involved in raising national awareness about the importance of land conservation, working with conservation groups, and reaching out directly to educate urban populations.”

Find out more about NRCS in Florida

Lightsey Cattle Company, nominated for the award by the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, is a diverse operation with three separately located ranches.  For many years, members of the Lightsey family have worked with a wide-ranging list of environmental agencies and organizations on environmental stewardship projects. The list includes NRCS, the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Florida Division of Forestry, University of Florida Extension Service, the Nature Conservancy, and Green Horizon. They host environmental groups on the ranch, give ecological tours, and participate in conservation efforts with the Florida Cattlemen’s Association and Florida CattleWomen’s Inc.

The ranches consist of 60 percent improved grasses and 40 percent native grasses. Some of the conservation systems implemented include rotational grazing, harvesting overgrown timber, guided hunting to control wildlife populations, deep ditch water systems, and controlled pasture burning. Most notably, the Lightseys have helped to protect and restore 28 endangered species that live on their ranches.

For additional information on the Lightsey family, contact NCBA at 202-347-0228.
Your contact is Bob Stobaugh, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 352-338-9565.