Award winner Jennifer James
Nov 15, 2017
KANSAS CITY, MO -- Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture last night announced the recipients of its inaugural 2017 Sustainability Leadership Awards and Arkansas rice farmer Jennifer James was named 2017 Farmer of the Year.
James, a fourth-generation rice farmer from Newport, Arkansas, was recognized for her extraordinary commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture through outstanding conservation and stewardship efforts on her farm, and for sharing best practices with her peers.
“Jennifer manages her family’s 6,000-acre farm with sustainability at the center of her decision making and an eye toward future generations,” said Rod Snyder, president of Field to Market. “Her leadership and commitment to sustainable agriculture is marked by her steadfast dedication to conserving natural resources and instituting practices that provide wildlife habitat while benefiting soil, water, and air quality.”
“It is well-known within the industry that farmers are good stewards of the land, but the recognition coming here to Jennifer – and by extension our industry – is exciting,” said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward. “As chair of the USA Rice Sustainability Committee, Jennifer has taken the lead for our industry in this area, and through her example and leadership, she is helping to tell our great story to consumers and end-users who want to know and need to know everything we are doing. We appreciate the recognition and congratulate Jennifer and her family on this high honor.”
The Alliance also honored Kellogg Company, Syngenta, and The Nature Conservancy with the 2017 Collaboration of the Year Award for their collective efforts to deliver sustainable outcomes for agriculture in Michigan’s Saginaw Bay.
Award winners were selected by Field to Market’s Board of Directors and the Alliance’s Awards and Recognition Committee. Field to Market is comprised of more than 130 members representing all facets of the U.S. agricultural supply chain, with members employing more than 5 million people and representing combined revenues totaling over $1.5 trillion.