Cheyenne, WYO– The annual Environmental Stewardship Tour, hosted by the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA), Wyoming Department of Agriculture, and program partner Sand County Foundation, will be held at the King Ranch, outside of Cheyenne, Wyo., Tuesday, July 14th, with registration beginning at 8am.
Each year, Wyoming Environmental Stewardship Day marks the date of the Environmental Stewardship Tour hosted by the Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA). The annual event showcases that year’s Leopold Conservation Award recipient’s conservation efforts. The 2015 recipient of the award is the King Ranch operated by the Eisele and Roberts family, who has a sustainable and profitable cattle operation in southeastern Wyoming.
“It is an honor to be considered this year among some of the best ranches I’ve seen in the state,” said Mark Eisele.
The King Ranch consists of 250 acres of prime hay land, as well as private and leased lands for grazing. Some of the practices designed to improve the environment include solar pumps for livestock watering tanks, which can be used by wildlife; rotational grazing; planting tree rows for shelter and wind break; low pressure pivot irrigation; and energy development cooperative mitigation and reclamation. The ranch runs anywhere from 100 to 750 head of cattle, allowing for manageable stocking levels. Beyond ranching, the family is involved in numerous civic and community service groups at the state level, holding membership, leadership and officer roles.
There is a full day of activities scheduled that will include a lunch, and an evening social and banquet in addition to the tour of the ranch. Entertainment at the social will be provided by Fiddles on the Range.
At 9 AM before the tour will be the welcome and ranch presentation given by the Eisele family. Immediately following is lunch on the ranch starting at 11:30 AM and tour starting at 1 pm. In addition to the lunch there is a social and banquet starting at 5:45 PM. Attendees are welcome to join in any and all of the activities during the day. Transportation from the King Ranch headquarters will be provided for the tour.
Information for the 2015 Environmental Stewardship Tour, including directions to the King Ranch, is available online at the WSGA Events Page at www.wysga.org under “Member Center”, then “Events”.
The Leopold Conservation Award® in Wyoming is made possible through the support of Peabody Energy, The Monaghan Foundation, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, World Wildlife Fund, DuPont Pioneer, The Mosaic Company and The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation.
To attend the tour, RSVP by July 8th at (307) 638-3942. A limited block of rooms has been reserved at the TownePlace Suites-Marriott (307) 634-0400. Call and let them know your reservation is for the WSGA event to book a room. If you plan to attend, please bring sun block lotion, mosquito spray, and clothing suitable to day out of doors.
Source: Wyoming Stock Growers Association
