Florida Ranch Receives Regional Environmental Stewardship Award

SAN DIEGO (July 8, 2025) – M&D Overstreet Ranch in Kathleen, Florida, was recognized today by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) as a 2025 Regional winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). Regional awards were presented during the cattle industry’s Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, and the national winner will be announced during CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, in February.

“It is an honor to recognize these cattle producers for their commitment to conservation,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein. “Not only are they protecting natural resources for future generations, but they also serve as stewardship role models for producers across the country.”

Established in 1991, ESAP celebrates outstanding land stewards in the cattle industry. Regional ESAP winners come from every corner of the country and undertake stewardship efforts unique to their environment, landscape and resources. The 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award Program Regional winners are:

Region I: Whispering Hills Farm, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky

Region II: M&D Overstreet Ranch, Kathleen, Florida

Region III: Smith Family Farms, Bankston, Iowa

Region IV: McFaddin Ranch, Victoria, Texas

Region V: G&G Livestock and Cathey Cattle Company, Polson, Montana

Region VII: Wine Glass Ranch, Imperial, Nebraska

“The Overstreet family has demonstrated a steadfast dedication to sustainable land management and their proactive approach ensures that our grazing areas remain well-maintained and ecologically balanced,” said Namon Cox, park manager of Colt Creek State Park. “The ranch has played a key role in controlling invasive plant species, improving pasture conditions and assisting with prescribed burns; critical practices that contribute to the ecological health of the park.”

M&D Overstreet Ranch sits at an urban-wildland interface in central Florida, surrounded by one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. The Overstreet’s story is one of endurance, responsibility and a deep-rooted belief in leaving the land better than they found it. Mark Overstreet, paralyzed from the waist down since 1970, has never let his disability keep him from stewarding the land. With modified equipment, sheer determination and an unbreakable spirit, he continues to oversee rotational grazing, soil restoration and water conservation projects that benefit not just the cattle, but all of Florida. M&D Overstreet Ranch uses controlled burns to restore native grasslands, lime rock lakes to recharge the aquifer, and wildlife corridors to protect species like deer, turkeys and wading birds. Overstreet remains a mentor and advocate, proving that true leadership isn’t about personal success, it’s about lifting others up. His work ensures that Florida’s ranching traditions, environmental stewardship and community values will endure for generations to come.

“This land is sacred to me. My grandfather taught me to leave it better than I found it, and that’s what I intend to do,” said Mark Overstreet with M&D Overstreet Ranch. “I promised myself I would not let my circumstances be an excuse. The land didn’t quit on me, and I wasn’t going to quit on it.”

ESAP is generously sponsored by companies and federal agencies who share the cattle industry’s commitment to caring for the environment and protecting natural resources. Sponsors including U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Corteva Agriscience, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partner with NCBA to promote environmental stewardship throughout the beef supply chain. For more information, visit www.environmentalstewardship.org.

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