Since its inception in 1994, the Eco-Ag Achievement Award has been presented annually at the Eco-Ag Conference by Acres U.S.A. to an individual who has pioneered and advanced ecological agriculture — someone who embodies creativity, resilience and a deep devotion to putting nature back into farming. This award celebrates leadership that transforms how we think about production-scale farming — leadership that integrates soil health, biological systems, landscape restoration and regenerative principles into real, operational farms and ranches.
The 2026 recipient has yet to be revealed. Join us at the Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show this December in Iowa City to be among the first to celebrate this year’s honoree and hear the story behind their contributions to the regenerative agriculture movement.
Will Harris is the owner of White Oak Pastures, a holistically managed, regenerative ranch and farm in Georgia. For decades, Harris has shown that farming can restore both land and community. He transformed his family’s farm into a regenerative ecosystem where diverse livestock improve soil health and ecological balance. By processing on-site and closing production loops, he created local jobs and reduced waste. Through mentorship, advocacy, and the Center for Agricultural Resilience, Harris has inspired a new generation of farmers and helped advance a more resilient food system.
Steve Diver has been a pioneer in sustainable agriculture for over four decades, serving as an Extension Horticulturist, farm manager, soils consultant, and educator. For 18 years, he worked with ATTRA, advancing practices that promote soil health, composting, and microbial inoculants. His expertise has taken him worldwide—from conducting the first biodynamic consultancies for USAID in Russia and India to serving on the National Organic Standards Board’s Compost Tea Task Force. As Farm Superintendent at the University of Kentucky’s Horticulture Research Farm, he continues to apply and share his deep knowledge of soil biology, organic production, and ecological farming to help growers build healthier, more resilient systems.
Mark Shepard, author, farmer and consultant Mark Shepard is the CEO of Restoration Agriculture Development, Forest Agriculture Enterprises and runs New Forest Farms, a 110-acre perennial agricultural savanna, one of the first of its kind in the United States. He has been designing and installing farm and ranch-scale rainwater management systems since 1995. He is the author of Restoration Agriculture: Real-world Permaculture for Farmers and Water for Any Farm both published by Acres U.S.A., and has been speaking at the Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show for more than a decade.
Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquín has been a strong leader in the movement for developing innovative poultry-centered regenerative agriculture systems around the world. He is the founder and board president of the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance, and co-founder/CEO of Tree-Range Farms. He is also a practicing regenerative farmer at Salvatierra Farms in Minnesota and author of In the Shadow of Green Man.
André Leu is a dedicated advocate for sustainable farming. A farmer in Australia, Leu is also the International Director of Regeneration International, an organization that promotes food, farming and land-use systems that regenerate and stabilize climate systems, the health of the planet and people.
Gabe Brown is one of the pioneers of the current soil health movement which focuses on the regeneration of our resources. Gabe, along with his wife Shelly, and son Paul, own and operate Brown’s Ranch, a diversified 5,000 acre farm and ranch near Bismarck, North Dakota. Their ranch focuses on farming and ranching in nature’s image. A well-respected leader in regenerative farming, Gabe stepped into the spotlight in 2020 in the film, Common Ground, which featured his ranch and his pragmatic methods. He is also the author of Dirt to Soil.
Paul Dettloff D.V.M. was raised on a farm in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine in 1967. Though he began as a conventional practitioner, he moved into the sustainable and organic/biological treatment of dairy and beef cows, sheep and goats using natural remedies, botanicals, homeopathy and holistic management of the soil and entire farm. He is an international authority on the natural farming and consults and lectures widely. Dettloff was a veterinarian and holistic livestock expert, whose books and consulting work helped create the organic dairy industry. He is the author of Dr. Paul Dettloff’s Complete Guide to Raising Animals Organically. Dettloff passed away in 2023.
Jeff Moyer is the CEO of Rodale Institute, and is a world-renowned authority in organic agriculture. Jeff brings a farmer’s perspective and approach to issues in organic agriculture, and is a past chair of the National Organic Standards Board. He is the author of Roller-Crimper in No-Till Agriculture and Organic No-Till Farming.
Dr. Vandana Shiva is a scholar, environmental activist, healthy food advocate and has written more than 20 books. Born in India, she leads anti-globalization movements and advocates for local control over the food supply. She is the author of several books and is featured in many documentaries on our food supply.
Dr. Phil Wheeler started organic farming in 1971 and went on to start Crop Services International with his wife Louisa. Phil is co-author of The Non-Toxic Farming Handbook, and was honored for the decades innovating and teaching. Wheeler passed away in November of 2025.
Margaret Merrill is a Virginia-based agricultural librarian and a long-time supporter of eco-farmers everywhere. She has volunteered at more than four decades of Acres U.S.A. conferences, and you will find her this year enthusiastically helping attendees.
Richard “Doc” Holliday is a holistic veterinarian who has utilized, innovated in, and taught and promoted more natural forms of animal care for a career spanning more than a half-century, long before organic farming began to be popular.
Don Huber is a professor emeritus in botany and plant pathology, having spent the bulk of his career at Purdue University. In retirement he has tirelessly and bravely divulged the bitter truths behind widespread use of glyphosate and GMOs.
Arden Andersen specializes in nutritional management and advises farmers to “build biology.” Andersen is the author of Science in Agriculture, and he has taught a variety of classes on soil and crop management and agricultural radionics.
Gary Zimmer was recognized for decades of tirelessly practicing, teaching and promoting effective natural farming techniques worldwide. Through his lectures and his company, many thousands of farmers have learned better methods of farming.
Jack & Anne Lazor began Vermont’s original organic dairy farm in 1979 and were honored for their contributions to and passion for organic agriculture. They were the founders of Butterworks Farm, which still runs successfully today.
Ronnie Cummins is founder and national director of the Organic Consumers Association, a group that has fought for integrity in organic products since 1988. The group has united millions of thousands of consumers around the world.
Jerry Brunetti worked as a soil and crop consultant, primarily for livestock farms and ranches, and improved crop quality and livestock performance and health on certified organic farms. In 1979, he founded Agri-Dynamics Inc., and confounded Earthworks in 1990. He spoke widely on the topics of human, animal and farm health. Eco-input innovator, teacher, researcher and author of The Farm as Ecosystem, Brunetti was known for his innovative, colorful presentations tirelessly spread the message of eco-agriculture and nature’s plan for health all over the world. Brunetti passed away in December 0f 2014.
Malcolm Beck was a lifelong organic farmer and the founder of Garden-Ville, a composting/recycling business and retail horticultural supply house. Composter, author and organic gardener extraordinaire, Beck was recognized for his pioneering work in spreading bio-correct agriculture, dating from the very beginning of the postwar organic revolution. Coupled with Beck’s insight into nature and practical advice are remarks from Charles Walters, Beck published The Secret Life of Compost in 1997.
Joel Salatin was recognized for his tireless work in spreading the word about the benefits of eco-farming and showing old-fashioned hospitality to thousand of visitors every year at the renowned Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia.
Bob Cannard, a Sonoma County, California, grower, owns farms that produce such high-quality food, it inspired a revolution in food and cooking. He is a long-time organic farmer, activist and teacher.
Sally Fallon was honored in recognition of her tireless work in the field of nutrition and its relation to health. Her work as a raw milk advocate has spawned a nationwide and increasingly successful movement here in the United States.
Neal Kinsey was recognized for his decades of work in training and assisting farmers all over the world to establish fertile soil systems with the sustainable methods championed by William A. Albrecht. He is the author of Hands-On Agronomy.
Percy Schmeiser received the award in recognition of his courageous battle for farmers’ rights against multinational agribusinesses giant Monsanto. While farming, he specialized in growing canola, peas, mustard and wheat.
Mark Purdey, an organic farmer from Somerset, England, was recognized for his courageous and inspired work investigating the causes of Mad Cow disease and variant CJD, including successful resistance to government-mandated pesticide use.
H.W. Hostetler was recognized for the decades of innovation he has shown on his Illinois farm. As the founder of Prairie Hybrids, he resisted the temptation to follow the rest of the industry into GMO, and was one of the first non-GMO advocates.
Dan Skow received the award for his lifetime of training thousands of farmers and consultants in the eco-farming methods of Reams’ biological theory of ionization. Skow spoke to packed rooms for several years at Eco-Ag Conferences.
Fred Kirschenmann is among the nation’s foremost advocates of sustainable agriculture, leading the movement toward organic methods we use today. He was honored for his exemplary spirit and successes in organic farming. Kirschenmann passed away in September of 2025.
Phil Callahan was a longtime friend of eco-farmers and discoverer of such cutting-edge natural processes as the link between paramagnetic rock dusts and healthy soils and the communication systems of plants and insects.
Dick & Sharon Thompson longtime ecological farmers, innovators and researchers, hosted thousands of visitors to their diversified farm in Boone, Iowa, and over a span of decades have addressed many more in speeches and presentations.
Fletcher Sims was widely considered the dean of American composters and was the earliest proponent and pioneer of feedlot manure composting. He was one of the world’s foremost authorities on the subject of compost, publishing his book, Fletcher Sims’ Compost in 1993. For over 50 years, Sims was involved in agri-business developing large-scale agriculture composting methods and equipment to help combat increasing soil erosion and flooding problems from runoff water. Sims founded Compost Corporation (CompCorp) headquartered in Canyon, Texas. Sims passed away in 2018.
Bargyla Rateaver was the first to receive the award. Author of the massive compendium The Organic Method Primer, Bargyla’s early leadership in organic farming helped pave the way for generations of conscientious, health-minded farmers.
