VXV Farms and the Vandervalk family of southern Alberta are the 2016 environmental stewardship award winners as determined by Alberta Beef Producers.
The award was presented Dec. 14 in Calgary and recognizes operations that show leadership in caring for the land while maintaining productivity and profitability.
Jack and Merry Vandervalk and their son, Gerald, and his family have a cow-calf operation in the Porcupine Hills west of Claresholm.
They use rotational grazing to preserve grassland, moving the cattle every two or three days in the grazing season. Native grass is also used in winter to reduce feeding costs.
The family has built dams and off-stream water troughs made from recycled tires.
“Turning old tires into watering systems has become a secondary business on the ranch,” said an ABP news release announcing the award.
“The excess tire materials have been used to build a wind fence to protect the cattle during the colder winter season.”
The Vandervalks are members of various landowner and stewardship groups and have worked on programs with Cows and Fish and the Alberta Conservation Association.
