Field to Market Sustainability Awards Honors Barry Evans as 2021 Farmer of the Year

Barry Evans, a fourth-generation farmer from Kress, TX, was honored as the 2021 Farmer of the Year as part of the 2021 Sustainability Leadership Awards from Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture.

The Sustainable Leadership Awards, now in their fifth year, are given to farmers, organizations, and individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership through their efforts to advance continuous improvement in the sustainability of U.S. commodity crop production.

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Evans was recognized for outstanding conservation efforts on his farm and leadership in advancing sustainable agriculture. Farming 4,500 acres of cotton and grain sorghum in the Texas panhandle, Evans pioneers a resilient approach to dryland farming by balancing dual natural resource concerns of soil and water conservation in the resource-limited High Plains.

The award celebrates Evans’ innovation and dedication to advancing sustainability while grappling with the region’s declining Ogallala Aquifer, demonstrating to his peers that it is possible to farm profitably and sustainably through an adaptive approach to conservation. His commitment continues to yield dividends, as he has dramatically reduced his energy use by nearly 80% and improved irrigated water use efficiency, conserving precious air and water resources while rebuilding generations worth of degraded soil health.

Evans also earned the 2016 Cotton Grower Cotton Achievement Award for his innovative production practices and service to the U.S. cotton industry. He was also honored as recipient of the 2020 Joseph J. O’Neill Cotton Marketer of the Year Award.

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Other recipients of the 2021 Field to Market Sustainability Leadership Awards are:

2021 Collaboration of the Year: PepsiCo-Unilever Soil Health Innovation Project, which brings together two distinct brands and their suppliers Cargill and Archer Daniel Midland to advance a streamlined approach to supporting Iowa farmers in adopting soil health practices across the crop rotation.

2021 Trusted Adviser of the Year: Leslie Fisher, Resource Conservation Specialist, Benton County Soil and Water Conservation District, for outstanding leadership in providing valuable counsel to Indiana farmers and championing community-wide solutions to enhance farmer livelihoods and make essential contributions to landscape-level sustainability outcomes across the state.

“Congratulations to each of our three awardees,” said Brandon Hunnicutt, Chair of Field to Market. “Their leadership in supporting the resilience of their local ecosystems while equally advancing economic opportunity for farmers will continue to serve as powerful examples of proven strategies for scaling sustainable agriculture for the broader industry.”

Field to Market’s Sustainability Leadership Award winners are selected by the Alliance’s Awards and Recognition Committee. Each recipient demonstrates leadership in the pursuit of continuous improvement, resulting in measurable results and significant impact on both agriculture and the environment. More information about the 2021 winners can be found on the Field to Market website.

Based on information provided by Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture

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