Those bestowed honors this year are:

• Keppy Farms, Durant, Iowa, represented by Loren and Jeantee Keppy;
• M and J Farms, Hadley, Minnesota, represented by Mike and Jake Haupert;
• Meadowlane Farms, Frankfort, Indiana, represented by Mike Beard;
• Seaboard Foods' Wakefield Farms, Trupin, Oklahoma, represented by Don Owens and Jennifer Nelson.

These producers exemplify excellence in environmental care and conservation in pork production, says National Pork Board president Lynn Harrison and pig producer from Elk Mound, Wisconsin. "It is important to recognize the positive environmental impact pork producers can have. Honoring these producers at Forum allows other producers to get excited about this program," he added.

Environmental steward award winners receive a plaque in recognition for their strong environmental ethic. Their stories will be featured in National Hog Farmer magazine, which co-sponsors the awards program and in the Pork Checkoff Report. They will also feature in an educational video produced and distributed by the National Pork Board.