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Wednesday, September 19, 2007
David Eaheart, APR Seaboard Foods david_eaheart@seaboardfoods.com 913-261-2621	Kathryn Bolay Oklahoma Pork Council 405-232-3781
Seaboard Foods named 2007 Pork Industry Environmental Steward
Oklahoma City (Sept. 19, 2007) Today the national Pork Checkoff and National Hog Farmer magazine announced that the same producer named as Oklahoma’s 2007 Environmental Stewardship award winner is being recognized as one of four National Environmental Stewardship recipients. Seaboard Foods’ Wakefield Farm in Beaver, Okla., was selected by a national panel of producers, academia and environmental organizations. Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Terry Peach, said the efforts taken by the farm to protect natural resources and support wildlife deserved being recognized. “I have visited the Wakefield Farm site and it is really impressive what they are doing there,” he said. “They have embraced technologies that turn animal waste into environmentally friendly liquid fertilizer and composted organic fertilizer. I think they are showing us where the future of animal agriculture may be headed.” He said he was not surprised to learn the farm had won the national award. “When the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry and the Oklahoma Pork Council selected Wakefield as our state environmental stewardship winner earlier this year, I was pretty confident they would also win the national award,” Peach said. “Their commitment to the environment is just phenomenal.” Animal waste generated by the Wakefield farm is treated through a seven-stage system that deals with liquid and solid waste separately, said Don Owens, director of maintenance and construction for Seaboard Foods. “This is the only farm that I know of in the country that utilizes all the different components as one system,” he said. “Managing these components is good for our employees and creates a good working environment. It also affects outside quality, which makes us a good neighbor.” Wakefield Farm was evaluated on its manure management system, water and soil conservation practices, odor control, farm aesthetics and neighbor relations, wildlife habitat promotion, and innovative ideas used to protect the environment, according to the Oklahoma Pork Council. Other farms recognized for the award this year are located in Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota. Wakefield Farm is the seventh Oklahoma hog farm to be awarded the National Environmental Stewardship award. Oklahoma has had more national award winners than any other state. #### Source: OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND FORESTRY For more information contact: Jack Carson (405) 522-4575; National Pork Board Contact: Angela DeMirjyn (515) 223 2600; Oklahoma Pork Council Contact: Kathryn Bolay (405) 232-3781