Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship Award Nomination Form

Use this form to nominate a dairy farm operation for the Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship Award.

Please refer to the appropriate form if you are submitting a nomination for a different category.

Nominations must be received by 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014.

Nomination Process

The fourth annual U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards will be presented in April 2015 by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy® (Innovation Center). The awards recognize dairy farms, businesses and collaborative partnerships for practices that deliver outstanding economic, environmental and/or social benefit, all helping to advance sustainability of the dairy industry and food system.

Overall Award CategoriesFarms may be nominated for any of the following awards:

Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability Award Outstanding Dairy Processing & Manufacturing Sustainability Award Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship Award Outstanding Achievement in Community Partnerships Award

Nomination Eligibility & Process Completed nomination forms and accompanying information will be accepted until 11:59 p.m.

CST on Nov. 7, 2014. Nominees must:

o Be an active U.S. dairy* farm operation.o Possess a current state milk permit or contract calves/heifers to licensed dairy farms.o Be open to an assessment for validation of the submitted information, as needed.o Be willing to share information with the industry, media and/or public about the

submission. Nominations may be submitted by any individual, group or organization involved with or part

of the U.S. dairy industry and may be submitted on behalf of themselves or others. The nominated program, project or practices must have been implemented in the U.S. There is no fee to enter this nomination. Nominees are eligible to submit a new nomination each year. Previous winners are eligible for nomination after two full program years have elapsed.

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Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship AwardNomination Form

Selection CriteriaNominations will be evaluated in three areas: results; learning, innovation and improvements; and potential for adoption by other dairy farms or businesses. The Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship Award recognizes dairy operations (both on and off the farm) that have measurable success in managing their resources with optimum efficiency and quality. Successful nominations have implemented efficiencies or innovations in areas such as energy, water and soil conservation, manure and waste management, and employing renewable energy sources. Details on individual questions are included in each section of the form beginning on Page 4.

Judging ProcessEvaluations will take into consideration differences in size, region and scope of projects as needed. An objective judging panel will make the final assessment and selection. The judging panel will include experts from academic institutions, government and nongovernmental organizations, and the agricultural/dairy/food industries.

Award WinnersWinners will be notified by April 1, 2015. Winners will receive:

An official commemorative plaque. Recognition via public relations and other promotional activities, including at an awards

ceremony during a meeting of the Innovation Center’s Sustainability Council, the industrywide leadership team. This event is expected to be held in April 2015.

Use of the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards logo for marketing purposes for up to one year. Case studies about their stories featured on USDairy.com/Sustainability.

Honorable mentions also may be identified at the discretion of the judging panel.

Submission Process Nominations will be accepted via mail or electronically and must be received by 11:59 p.m.

CST on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014. Photos, slides, videos or news articles will not be evaluated. Although these materials are

great examples of storytelling, only the written application and supporting letters will be reviewed.

The nomination form and accompanying information will not be returned. The Innovation Center reserves the right to publish all or part of the information provided in

the nomination form. Email a scanned or PDF version to: InnovationCenter@USDairy.com OR send by mail to:

Innovation Center for U.S. DairyAttention: U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards10255 W. Higgins Road, Suite 900Rosemont, IL 60018

Questions? Go to USDairy.com/Sustainability/Awards; email InnovationCenter@USDairy.com; or call

John Monaghan at 847-627-3324.

Nominations must be received by 11:59 p.m. CST on Nov. 7, 2014.

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Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship AwardNomination Form

About the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Commitment

The U.S. Dairy Sustainability Commitment is an industrywide effort to benchmark and increase the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the dairy industry. It was launched in 2008 through the leadership of dairy producers and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy®.

The Sustainability Commitment has the support and participation of more than 800 industry professionals and experts from academic, private industry, governmental and nongovernmental organizations working together to provide nutritious dairy products in a way that makes our industry, the Earth and its people economically, environmentally and socially better — now and for future generations.

U.S. Dairy Sustainability Vision:

For more information about the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Commitment, go to USDairy.com/Sustainability.

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Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship AwardNomination Form

Use this form to nominate a dairy farm operation for the Outstanding Resource Stewardship Award.

Please refer to the appropriate form if you are submitting a nomination for a different category.

Nominations must be received by 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014.

Section 1 — Organizational Overview

1. Name of operation:

2. Please provide a brief description of the operation: (limit 350 words)Include (as applicable), for example:

- Average number of cows (milking and dry)- Volume of milk sold in last 12-month period- Other livestock- Crops, acreage- Barn design- Annual revenue- Number of employees (including owner/operator)- History of operation and succession plan

Judging Criteria (0 points) — Judges will not be evaluating Questions 1 and 2.

3. Please provide a brief summary describing why national recognition is deserved in the Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship Award category: (limit 200 words) Please include the following:

- Briefly describe key programs, projects and/or practices.- Describe what is important, new or innovative.- Summarize the goals and results. What did the farm strive to achieve and how was it

successful?Judging Criteria (4 points) — Judges will be evaluating if the summary is clear and concise.

Section 2 — Telling the Sustainability Story

1. Need: What problem or opportunity was addressed? Were there external factors that encouraged or pressured action? (limit 50 words)Judging Criteria (4 points) — Judges will be evaluating if the need is clear and relevant.

2. Goals: How did the effort support overall objectives for the farm operation? What were the specific project goals — environmental, economic and social, as applicable? (limit 50 words)Judging Criteria (4 points) — Judges will be evaluating how well the goals address the need and to what extent the effort addresses multiple aspects of sustainability (environmental, economic, social).

3. Approach: Describe the approach taken. (limit 200 words)

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Judging Criteria (4 points) — Judges will be evaluating how well the approach matches the need and if it is unique and/or compelling.

4. Resources: Discuss the use of resources — including money, people, collaborators, and science or research — in reaching the goals stated in Section 1. (limit 100 words)Judging Criteria (4 points) — Judges will be evaluating for the effective use of multiple resources to address the need.

Section 3 — Results

1. Our Planet: Conservation/Environmental Stewardship: How was success monitored, measured and evaluated? Were efficiencies gained (e.g., the ability to do more with less)? How were the environmental benefits quantified? Were there additional intended or unanticipated benefits in other areas? (limit 500 words)Judging Criteria (16 points) — Judges will be evaluating how effectively the activities were measured and monitored, if the project was evaluated to ensure success in environmental stewardship, the level of environmental benefits achieved, what long-term environmental benefits are foreseen and how effectively these results were communicated to others.

2. Our Businesses: Economic Vitality: How was the business success of the activity monitored, measured and evaluated? Were economic efficiencies or new revenues generated? Was there a financial payback, and how was it measured? Was there an economic benefit to the community? (limit 500 words)Judging Criteria (16 points) — Judges will be evaluating the effectiveness of the activity’s measurements in dollars or equivalencies, if the project was evaluated to ensure economic success, the level of economic benefits achieved, what long-term economic benefits are foreseen and how effectively these results were communicated to others.

3. Our Communities, Consumers and Employees: Social Responsibility: Did the project have a positive impact on the community, and/or create a positive perception of the nominated dairy within the local community? Were there direct or indirect economic impacts on the community? Did it help achieve community or employee goals? If so, how did that positive aspect come about? Did the project affect working conditions? How were these successes communicated to neighbors and other members of the public? (limit 500 words)Judging Criteria (16 points) — Judges will be evaluating how effectively the activities were measured and monitored using stories or hard numbers, if the project was evaluated to ensure success in social responsibility, the level of substantial social benefits that were achieved, what long-term social benefits are foreseen and how effectively these results were communicated to others.

4. Our Cows: Animal Well-being: Did the project have a positive impact on herd health and productivity? Does the dairy participate in the NMPF FARM program or an equivalent program? What new technologies or management practices were embraced that led to greater cow comfort and productivity? Did these efforts positively impact the public’s perception of animal care in the dairy industry? (limit 500 words)Judging Criteria (8 points) — Judges will be evaluating how effectively animal health was monitored and measured, if the project was evaluated to ensure animal well-being success, if

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substantial benefits to animal well-being were achieved, what long-term animal well-being benefits are foreseen and how effectively these results were communicated to others.

Section 4 — Lessons Learned and Replication

1. Lessons learned: What key lessons were learned? How were they identified, recorded and shared with other dairy producers? How were existing practices leveraged and built upon to create a superior outcome or innovation? (limit 200 words)Judging Criteria (12 points) — Judges will be evaluating how well the project advanced the sustainability of the dairy industry, what the nominee learned from the project and to what extent the project built on existing practices for a better outcome.

2. Replication: Explain the benefit and relevance of this work to the dairy industry, other dairy producers, the local community and/or other stakeholders. How were results shared with others for replication? What future plans exist to maintain, improve or build on these efforts? How can the project, program or practice be adopted by others? Could others follow the lead of the nominated farm? (limit 200 words)Judging Criteria (12 points) — Judges will be evaluating the project’s innovativeness, its relevancy to other operations and how easily it can be duplicated.

Section 5 — Letters of Recommendation

Please submit one or two letters of recommendation. Letters should validate the nominee’s achievements in sustainability. Any letters of recommendation beyond two will not be evaluated. Judging Criteria (8 points) — Judges will be evaluating if the letters of recommendation support the sustainability claims of the nominee.

Section 6 — References

Please provide the name, address, phone number and email address of two references we can contact in regard to sustainability on the nominated farm. These can include Extension agents, consultants, vendors or suppliers, for example.Judging Criteria (0 points) — Judges will not be evaluating on this information. The references will only be contacted to confirm and corroborate the information on the nomination form.

Section 7 — Farm Information

Judging Criteria (0 point) — Judges will not be evaluating this information.Information on Nominee Farm (if applicable)

1. Farm organization (check one):

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Reference 2:

Name: Street: City: State: ZIP code: Phone: Email address:

Reference 1:

Name: Street: City: State: ZIP code: Phone: Email address:

Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship AwardNomination Form

☐ Sole proprietorship☐ Partnership☐ Corporation☐ LLC☐ Other; describe: _______________________________________________________

2. Does the farm market its milk through a cooperative? (This does not affect the evaluation of the nomination.)If yes, please indicate which one. If not, where is the milk marketed?

Nominator Contact InformationCompany:

Contact Name: Last First M.I.

Address: Street Address Suite/Unit

City State ZIP Code

Phone: ( )Email Address: Website:

Nominee Contact InformationIf same as nominator, check here and skip. ☐Farm Name:

Contact Name: Last First M.I.

Address: Street Address Suite/Unit

City State ZIP Code

Phone: ( )Email Address: Website:

Nominations must be received by 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014.

THANK YOU!

Please let us know how you heard about the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards. (Check all that apply.)

☐ Information on USDairy.com ☐ Innovation Center webinar ☐ Referred by colleague/friend☐ Read about in a publication ☐ Email from Innovation Center ☐ Other: __________________

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Outstanding Achievement in Resource Stewardship AwardNomination Form

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy extends its appreciation for support of the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards program to:

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