Announcing the Winner of the 2004 Vim Wright Stewardship Award

The Farming & the Environment first annual Vim Wright Stewardship Award celebration was held on October 23, 2004 on the Central Washington University campus in Ellensburg. John and Sharon Aeschliman accepted the $2500 cash award in recognition of their outstanding stewardship practices on their farm and long-standing stewardship ethic. This exciting event brought together a large audience of farmers, conservationists, environmentalists, political leaders and others to honor the winner and celebrate the stewardship of Washington State’s farmers. This Award marks the first time farmers and environmentalists in Washington State have worked collaboratively to recognize and reward the stewardship practices of Washington’s farmers.

John and Sharon Aeschliman and their family own and operate the 4000-acre Aeschliman Farm in the Palouse near Colfax. For thirty years, the Aeschliman’s have been perfecting no-till systems for direct-seeding of dry-land farm crops. The farm produces winter and spring wheat, spring barley, peas, lentils, and canola, and recently corn. The Aeschilman’s land management practices provide an outstanding example of the vital role Washington’s farmers play in ensuring the quality of food we eat and the quality of life we treasure in Washington state.

Joel and Cynthia Huesby, owners of Thundering Hooves Farm in Touchet, Washington and Grant Gibbs, owner of Gibbs Organic Produce in Leavenworth, were named finalists and recognized at the dinner for their stewardship practices. At their Thundering Hooves Farm in the Walla Walla Valley, the Huesby family raises livestock on natural grass and alfalfa pastures free of commercial fertilizers and herbicides. The Gibbs family raises organic produce and livestock at the Gibbs Organic Produce farm in Leavenworth. The winner and finalists were recognized for the care they take to ensure the health of the land and the quality of food they produce.

The three family farms are located across the state and vary in size, and type of farming operation and food raised. In spite of this diversity, all three farms are managed to ensure that future generations of Washington’s families will enjoy safe, healthy, delicious food and a healthy environment with the scenic beauty of well-tended, prosperous farm and ranch land They all are dedicated to ensuring the health of their land by taking active role in caring for its natural resources such as air, water, and wildlife, and the resources of the surrounding environment. Their stewardship practices take into account the long-term ecological and community values of their locale and recognize the need for economic vitality.

Stewardship Criteria

The Award Selection Committee considered a wide diversity of stewardship criteria in selecting the award winner. Recognizing that each farm operation is unique, the selection committee also considered the following site-specific stewardship practices of each operation:

Water quality

Water conservation

Pests, including weeds, disease, and insects

• Nutrients
• Soil Loss
• Soil Quality
• Air Quality
• Endangered, threatened or species of concern
• Fish and Wildlife
• Stewardship Value Added Marketing
• Human Resources and Community Infrastructure
• Research and Development
• Education and Outreach

The committee also highly rated farmers who:

• Made management decisions by evaluating their impact on natural resources across their entire operation.
• Demonstrated a long standing stewardship ethic and leadership by sharing knowledge of innovative management practices.
• Recognize the importance of relating stewardship and marketing their products.