Joe Carpenter and Barb Downey of Downey Ranch were awarded the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assocation Environmental Stewardship Award Program in 2024, and for good reason, because they are implementing both conservation and profit-driven practices.

While their methods don’t always look conventional, they have been developed out of the necessity of saving money and labor on their operation.

“I know that looks anti-thetical to most farmers,” Downey said. “But boy you don’t have to look very long at the dollars to go, ‘okay that’s pretty cool.'”

Practices they have incorporated on their ranch include using collars on their cattle to assist rotational grazing, preserving native grasslands, managing wood encroachment and other invasive species and bale grazing.

For more information visit DOWNEY RANCH, Inc. – Welcome to Downey Ranch, Wamego, KS!