LITTLE ROCK, AR — USA Rice Producers’ Group Conservation Committee Chairman Leo LaGrande recognized George Dunklin’s leadership and contributions to U.S. agricultural conservation with the announcement of the fifth annual USA Rice Federation Distinguished Conservation Achievement Award. The award was announced during the annual Rice Awards luncheon held Monday at the 2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference and will be presented at USA Rice’s 2015 Government Affairs Conference next February.
“It is the USA Rice Federation’s privilege to announce George Dunklin as the recipient of this award,” LaGrande said. “George has been farming rice for 34 years, is a past Commissioner of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, has been active in Ducks Unlimited for 31 years, and has recently been elected to become the organization’s 42nd president.”
“Farmers are, by definition, conservationists,” said LaGrande. “As we continue to see farm policy evolve, we realize conservation and coalition-building is front and center. And USA Rice’s partnership with Ducks Unlimited is a perfect example of this new model emphasizing agriculture’s role in preservation of natural resources.”
The historic stewardship partnership between USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited was formed in 2013 so the groups could work collaboratively to conserve critical natural and economic resources. Earlier this year, the partnership submitted their first national Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) proposal outlining the planning, design, and installation of conservation practices on working rice lands. RCPP approval is scheduled to be announced by year’s end.