Hedlin Farms, located in the Skagit Valley, has been selected as this year’s first prize winner of Farming and the Environment’s annual Vim Wright Stewardship Award. This annual award recognizes Washington State producers who are providing exemplary stewardship of soil, water, air, and wildlife habitat. The award honors the late Vim Wright, who dedicated her life to protecting Washington’s environment and keeping family farms in business. The two Runners-Up are Rama Farm in Bridgeport and Crown S Ranch in Winthrop.

Hedlin Farms was originally established in 1906 near what is now La Conner, Washington, by Rasmas Koudal, a Danish immigrant.  Three generations later, the original homestead has grown to 400 acres and is now being farmed by David Hedlin and Serena Campbell. As Dave explains, “Our family has farmed for 100 years on both sides of Sullivan Slough, and it is still some of the best Chinook rearing habitat in the region.” They raise everything from “artichokes to zucchini,” including 40 types of heirloom tomatoes. The Hedlins are highly regarded by both the farming community and the environmental community for their leadership in the application of innovative conservation practices.

One of the things that makes Hedlin Farms unique is that they are currently partnered with The Nature Conservancy of Washington on a three-year research project evaluating various farming practices for shorebird habitat next to the Skagit River.  These include sheet flooding, harvested forage, and fenced pasture.  The practices are evaluated by a battery of soil and microbiological tests as well as by migratory shorebird use, with the dual goals of benefiting shorebirds while maintaining the viability of working farms.

The two runners-up for the award this year are two diverse, innovative farms from eastern Washington. Rama Farm was established in 1991, on a 26-acre piece of property in Bridgeport with 3 ½ acres of 1- and 2-year old peach and nectarine trees and an unperfected interruptible water right to irrigate 6 acres from the Columbia River. Rick and Marilynn Lynn immediately applied to the WSDA Organic Food Program; the farm has been certified organic since 1993.  They also perfected their water right and have put the remaining 6 acres to beneficial use either in additional fruit crops or wildlife habitat.  In addition to establishing the infrastructure needed to direct market (such as, packing sheds, coolers, and delivery vans), they recently received a license for an on-farm organic processing kitchen. With the remaining acreage, they have integrated alpacas to provide an on-farm nitrogen source, additional products to sell with their fruit at farmers markets, and breeding stock.

On Crown S Ranch, Louis Sukovaty and Jennifer Argraves continue a tradition begun in 1968, when Louis’ parents purchased the working family ranch in Winthrop. Their mission is to farm in ways that are better for the animals, for the environment, and for the consumer. Because they do not use pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers, they need to maintain the balance around them by working with, not against, nature.  They do so by fencing out areas for wildlife, planting trees, timing of grazing, and changing livestock types. In addition, they have dedicated more than 10% of their farm to wildlife habitat.

Meet our prior year's winners.