W.F. Goring and Son Inc. Named 2015 Utah Leopold Conservation Award® Recipient
November 30, 2015
SANDY, Utah – Sand County Foundation in partnership with the Western AgCredit, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, and the Utah Cattlemen’s Association are proud to name W.F. Goring and Son, Inc. as the recipient of the prestigious Utah Leopold Conservation Award®. Bill and Sherie Goring, along with their son Blake, own and manage the sheep ranch in Deweyville.
Located on the west side of the Wellsville Mountains, the third generation sheep ranch has a rich history working the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency to help improve the health of the rangeland. The Gorings have implemented extensive water systems, installed fencing and revitalized their forest. The family also hosts several ranch tours for people who want to learn more about their management practices.
Being sensitive to the Greater Sage-Grouse population and upland game birds on their land, the Gorings burned and mechanically removed strips of forage brush on 1,800 acres so the natural forage can thrive. They also re-seeded these areas with grasses to benefit the birds and sheep. A portion of their property is now used as a pheasant hunting preserve, attracting youth groups and local civic leagues.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Leopold Conservation Award recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. It inspires other landowners through these examples and provides a visible forum where farmers, ranchers and other private landowners are recognized as conservation leaders. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”
The Leopold Conservation Award honors Utah landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources. The Gorings will be presented with a crystal award and $10,000 at the Utah Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Convention in Layton.
“Western AgCredit is proud to be the principal financial sponsor of the Leopold Conservation Award in Utah. Conservation is a way of life for the Gorings. We appreciate their commitment to improving the environment in which we live,” said Dick Weathered, CEO of Western AgCredit.
“We are extremely proud of the Goring family and the pride they take in improving the landscape and natural resources in their care,” said Leland Hogan, President of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation. “The Gorings are an example of the conservation ethic found in Utah’s farmers and ranchers, and we salute them for their efforts.
“We appreciate the Leopold Conservation Award program and sponsors for seeking out and rewarding landowners for their excellence of resource management. The Goring family is certainly deserving of this recognition for their generations of good land stewardship,” said Brent Tanner, Executive Vice President, Utah Cattlemen's Association.
The Leopold Conservation Award in Utah is made possible through the support of Western AgCredit, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, Utah Cattlemen’s Association, Producers Livestock Marketing, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Utah Association of Conservation Districts, The Nature Conservancy, DuPont Pioneer, The Mosaic Company and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation.
Visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.
ABOUT THE LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD
The Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. The award consists of $10,000 and a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold. Sand County Foundation presents Leopold Conservation Awards in California, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
ABOUT SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION
Sand County Foundation (www.sandcounty.net) is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to working with private landowners across North America to advance ethical and scientifically sound land management practices that benefit the environment.
ABOUT WESTERN AGCREDIT
Western AgCredit is the leader within the agricultural finance industry with over 90 years of lending to farmers in the Intermountain West. It currently serves approximately 1,700 customers with a full range of credit and financial services, as well as providing financial and volunteer support to several agricultural and community activities, including, among others, Utah Farm Bureau, Utah Cattlemen’s Association, FFA and 4-H.
ABOUT UTAH FARM BUREAU
The Utah Farm Bureau is the largest general farm and ranch organization in the state with more than 28,800 member families. Its mission is to improve economic opportunities for the state’s farmers and ranchers, ensure America’s food security, protect the natural resources of our state, and improve the overall quality of life in the sate and nation through political action, educational and informational means.
ABOUT UTAH CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION
The Utah Cattlemen’s Association (UCA) has represented Utah cattle producers since 1870, preserving the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy and by supporting and establishing the adoption of good principles of raising and marketing cattle and caring for the land we ranch on. Efforts are made possible through membership contributions.
Located on the west side of the Wellsville Mountains, the third generation sheep ranch has a rich history working the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency to help improve the health of the rangeland. The Gorings have implemented extensive water systems, installed fencing and revitalized their forest. The family also hosts several ranch tours for people who want to learn more about their management practices.
Being sensitive to the Greater Sage-Grouse population and upland game birds on their land, the Gorings burned and mechanically removed strips of forage brush on 1,800 acres so the natural forage can thrive. They also re-seeded these areas with grasses to benefit the birds and sheep. A portion of their property is now used as a pheasant hunting preserve, attracting youth groups and local civic leagues.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Leopold Conservation Award recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. It inspires other landowners through these examples and provides a visible forum where farmers, ranchers and other private landowners are recognized as conservation leaders. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”
The Leopold Conservation Award honors Utah landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources. The Gorings will be presented with a crystal award and $10,000 at the Utah Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Convention in Layton.
“Western AgCredit is proud to be the principal financial sponsor of the Leopold Conservation Award in Utah. Conservation is a way of life for the Gorings. We appreciate their commitment to improving the environment in which we live,” said Dick Weathered, CEO of Western AgCredit.
“We are extremely proud of the Goring family and the pride they take in improving the landscape and natural resources in their care,” said Leland Hogan, President of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation. “The Gorings are an example of the conservation ethic found in Utah’s farmers and ranchers, and we salute them for their efforts.
“We appreciate the Leopold Conservation Award program and sponsors for seeking out and rewarding landowners for their excellence of resource management. The Goring family is certainly deserving of this recognition for their generations of good land stewardship,” said Brent Tanner, Executive Vice President, Utah Cattlemen's Association.
The Leopold Conservation Award in Utah is made possible through the support of Western AgCredit, Utah Farm Bureau Federation, Utah Cattlemen’s Association, Producers Livestock Marketing, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Utah Association of Conservation Districts, The Nature Conservancy, DuPont Pioneer, The Mosaic Company and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation.
Visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.
ABOUT THE LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD
The Leopold Conservation Award is a competitive award that recognizes landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. The award consists of $10,000 and a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold. Sand County Foundation presents Leopold Conservation Awards in California, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
ABOUT SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION
Sand County Foundation (www.sandcounty.net) is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to working with private landowners across North America to advance ethical and scientifically sound land management practices that benefit the environment.
ABOUT WESTERN AGCREDIT
Western AgCredit is the leader within the agricultural finance industry with over 90 years of lending to farmers in the Intermountain West. It currently serves approximately 1,700 customers with a full range of credit and financial services, as well as providing financial and volunteer support to several agricultural and community activities, including, among others, Utah Farm Bureau, Utah Cattlemen’s Association, FFA and 4-H.
ABOUT UTAH FARM BUREAU
The Utah Farm Bureau is the largest general farm and ranch organization in the state with more than 28,800 member families. Its mission is to improve economic opportunities for the state’s farmers and ranchers, ensure America’s food security, protect the natural resources of our state, and improve the overall quality of life in the sate and nation through political action, educational and informational means.
ABOUT UTAH CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION
The Utah Cattlemen’s Association (UCA) has represented Utah cattle producers since 1870, preserving the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy and by supporting and establishing the adoption of good principles of raising and marketing cattle and caring for the land we ranch on. Efforts are made possible through membership contributions.
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