USDA PRESENTS THE FIRST EXCELLENCE IN CONSERVATION AWARD

WASHINGTON, July 5, 2002 -- The U. S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will present its first national Excellence in Conservation Award next week to a California rancher, Al Poncia, for his efforts to conserve, maintain and improve the natural resources and environment on America's private lands.

"Mr. Poncia is an outstanding example of an agricultural producer who is committed to conserving the resources on his land and sharing his passion with other ranchers," said Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman. "Through this special honor, we hope to encourage adoption of good conservation practices."

Poncia is a third-generation rancher and leader of conservation efforts in northern California. His grandfather started the northern Marin County ranch 100 years ago; today, it covers more than 700 acres. The ranch supports a small flock of sheep and a 200 head cow/calf operation.

Poncia has adopted an integrated system of managing the pastureland on his ranch -- protecting streams and adjacent land with culvert crossings, installing electric fences that can be reconfigured in response to changing conditions, planting native species on streambanks and carefully monitoring grazing to allow these areas to remain productive and protect them from over use.

Poncia also is active in conservation education, conducting workshops on his ranch to promote the conservation of natural resources on private lands, working in partnership with the University of California Extension Service and the Marin County Resource Conservation District.

NRCS initiated the Excellence in Conservation Award earlier this year to recognize the voluntary contributions of nongovernmental individuals and groups to the conservation effort in such areas as technical assistance and other types of program delivery, technology transfer, outreach or communications. Any non-governmental individual, group, tribe or organization is eligible.

"We are presenting this award to honor the conservation successes that have been achieved through the work of private landowners and partners," said NRCS Chief Bruce Knight, "and the visible results on America's landscape."

Poncia will receive the Excellence in Conservation Award at a ceremony at the USDA complex in Washington, D.C., on July 8.

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