George ‘Bud’ Malone Environmental Award: A Celebration of Sustainable Poultry Practices
The Delmarva Chicken Association (DCA) has announced the continuation of the George ‘Bud’ Malone Environmental Award, honoring chicken growers who demonstrate exceptional commitment to eco-friendly farming practices. Now in its fourth year, this award recognizes farmers who enhance their environmental stewardship while maintaining strong relationships with neighboring properties.
The Significance of the Award
This accolade is not merely symbolic; it comes with a $500 prize for the winner, underscoring the DCA’s dedication to promoting sustainability within the chicken farming community. Nominations are open to the public, with a submission deadline of June 20, 2025, allowing anyone who admires a dedicated grower to put their name forward.
In Memory of a Visionary
Named after Bud Malone, the award pays tribute to his pioneering efforts in launching DCA’s nationally recognized vegetative environmental buffers program. This initiative has successfully led to the planting of thousands of trees, shrubs, and grasses on family-owned poultry farms throughout Delmarva, fostering better relations between farm owners and local residents.
Eligibility and Practices Considered
Applications can be submitted by the growers themselves or by family members, friends, flock supervisors, or representatives from state and federal agencies. To qualify for nomination, growers must be DCA members at the $150 level or above.
Some of the key practices that the award committee considers include:
- Well-maintained heavy-use pads
- Vegetative environmental buffers around chicken houses and property lines
- Pollinator-friendly vegetative plots
- General cleanliness of the farm
- Grass buffers to mitigate dust and odor
- Use of solar energy or other efficient energy solutions
- Effective mortality composting practices
- Attention to manure storage and maintenance
- Condition of farm roads
- Weed management near chicken houses
- Proper drainage systems including stormwater ponds
- Innovative adaptations for improved neighbor relations
How to Apply
Interested individuals can submit nominations for the George ‘Bud’ Malone Environmental Award by visiting dcachicken.com/Malone-award. DCA staff may reach out to nominated farms for on-site evaluations to confirm the practices listed on applications. The final decision will be made by the Grower Committee, which will review all submissions.
Culmination of Excellence
The DCA intends to recognize the award recipient at a grower event, presenting them with a plaque and distributing a press release to highlight their achievements. Additionally, the recipient may be nominated for the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association’s Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award, further showcasing their commitment to sustainable practices.
For further details, visit the Delmarva Chicken Association’s official site.
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