Dr. James “Jim” Horne, President and CEO of the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, received the inaugural Henry Bellmon Award for Sustainability last month in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Horne was honored for taking “a balanced approach toward quality of life for all, responsible economic growth, and environmental stewardship.”

Horne, who also garnered the Quality of Life for All Award, has led the Kerr Center since its establishment in 1985.  His accomplishments include chairing USDA’s National Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Council as well as the Southern Region Council for USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, working to establish the farm-to-school and farmer grants programs at Kerr Center, promoting farmers’ markets, and developing a program of sustainable agriculture research and demonstrations at the Kerr Ranch near Poteau, OK.

“The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is pleased that Dr. Horne has been recognized for his lifelong commitment to sustainable agriculture and tireless work on behalf of family farmers and ranchers,” said Executive Director Susan Prolman.  The Kerr Center is an NSAC member organization.

The Henry Bellmon Sustainability Awards are named in honor of two-term Oklahoma Senator Henry Bellmon, a wheat farmer who championed soil conservation efforts and continued to farm until late in life.