Missouri Agriculture Stewardship Award applications available
Missouri Farmers Care, a coalition of Missouri’s agricultural organizations and agribusinesses, is now accepting applications for the Missouri Agriculture Stewardship Award.
The newly-developed award recognizes the high bar set in Missouri agriculture for the careful and responsible management of land, natural resources, and animals entrusted to the care of Missouri farmers and ranchers. The Missouri Farmers Care Missouri Agriculture Stewardship Award is presented in partnership with Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, and organizations across Missouri agriculture.
Private landowners manage 93 percent of Missouri land, with 27 million acres managed as farms and ranches. Missouri Farmers Care seeks award applicants who demonstrate the best innovation, stewardship, and diligence in land management decisions on their working farms and ranches.
With this award, Missouri agriculture continues the tradition of highlighting stewardship efforts of Missouri farmers. Missouri Farmers Care and partners collaborated to present deserving farm families the Missouri Leopold Conservation Award from 2017 to 2023. The Missouri Agriculture Stewardship Award will continue the tradition with an award tailored to highlight the best of Missouri agricultural production practices.
The 2025 Missouri Agricultural Stewardship Award will be presented to a farm family at agricultural and natural resource conferences this winter. Recipients will be extended invitations throughout the year to speak on panels and present at conferences to share their experiences with fellow producers and host an on-farm tour that highlights their successful conservation and stewardship practices. Award recipients will receive a $5,000 honorarium.
Additional information is available at https://mofarmerscare.com/