The Region VII winner of the Environmental Stewarship Award is Black Leg Ranch, McKenzie, North Dakota.

Owners are Jerry and Renae Doan, Jeremy and Ashlee Doan, Jay and Kari Doan, Jayce Doan, Shanda and Don Morgan.

The ranch originated in 1882 with Jerry Doan’s great-grandfather. Black Leg Ranch is named for the family’s introduction of Angus genetics in 1930.

Today, Jerry and Renae operate the ranch with their sons and daughters-in-law, Jeremy and Ashlee,  and Jay and Kari, son Jayce and their daughter, Shanda and son-in-law Don Morgan.

The Doan family of Black Leg Ranch in North Dakota won region VII in the annual Environmental Stewardship Award Program.

Black Leg Ranch comprises 17,000 acres in central North Dakota. The ranch includes 3,000 acres of cropland that provides grazable crop residue. The Doans partner with farmers on the cropland to allow the family to guide crop rotations, no-till practices and cover crops; the arrangement saves the family from investing in depreciable machinery.

The family restored 2,200 acres of grazing land from cropland. The ranch carries 600 family-owned cows and custom-grazes 2,400 yearlings and pairs.

Attention to soil health and intensive grazing has led to increased forage production and lower costs. In addition to building soil health, cover crops reduce inputs, prevention erosion, create habitat and provide winter grazing which reduces feed costs by $200 per head.

In their intensive rotational grazing, the Doans move cattle once every one to seven days. They have installed 65 miles of two-wire, high-tensile fence to create 90 pastures. Jerry monitors cattle performance with the Nutritional Balancer Program from Texas A&M University.

By grazing paddocks rested for 70 to 90 days, Jerry increased yearling gains by one pound per day.

The Doans built three dams and 14 dugout ponds to supplement water for cattle and wildlife. The family installed six wells and more than 16 miles of pipeline to offer fresh water in each paddock.

The Doans have planted 43,000 linear feet of trees since 2000 to enhance habitat.

In addition to cattle and rowcrops, the ranch supports the Doans’ outfitting and agritourism businesses.

Black Leg Ranch was nominated by North Dakota Stockmen’s Association.

The Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) was started by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) in 1991. It recognizes cattle producers whose efforts benefit both the environment and the bottom line, reflecting true sustainability – ecological and economic.

It is administered by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and funded by Dow AgroSciences, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Any individual or group may nominate a cattle producer for the award. Winners are selected by a committee of from both within and outside the cattle industry. The selection committee chooses a regional winner from each of seven regions, then a national winner is named at NCBA’s annual convention each winter.

Nominations are due in March.