The ranch operates a sustainable and profitable cattle operation on 500,000 acres in Wyoming and Montana. Owned by the Scott family and managed by Wayne Fahsholz, president and CEO, Padlock was among regional finalists from across the country recognized for its commitment to environmental stewardship during a ceremony at the NCBA’s summer conference in Denver.

The ranch is one of seven regional winners that will compete for the national ESAP award, which will be announced during the 2014 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show in Nashville.

The regional winners, besides Padlock, are Mountain Meadows Farm, Sudbury, Vermont; Kissimmee Park Properties, St. Cloud, Florida; BitterSweet Acres, Greenville, Iowa; Frank and Sims Price Ranch, Sterling City, Texas; Kualoa Ranch, Kane‘ohe, Hawaii; and Gracie Creek Landowners Association, Burwell, Nebraska.



ESAP, now in its 23rd year, was created to recognize beef producers who make environmental stewardship a priority on their farms and ranches while also improving production and profitability. The award is sponsored by NCBA, Dow AgroSciences, USDA-NRCS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation.

The 2013 ESA winners, Gary and Sue Price of Texas, also were Leopold Conservation Award recipients. 

 “Wayne and Judy Fahsholtz, the Scott Family and the other dedicated people who operate the Padlock Ranch are excellent examples of ranchers who are committed to living as responsible stewards of the land,” says Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) Executive Vice President Jim Magagna.

The $10,000 Leopold award, named for renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, was presented to the ranch at WSGA’s Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show in June by Sand County Foundation, WSGA and Peabody Energy. 

—From Wyoming Stock Growers Association and National Cattleman's Beef Association news releases