University Press of Kentucky Author Wins Beard Award
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 29, 2011) − Frederick L. Kirschenmann, author of "Cultivating an Ecological Conscience: Essays from a Farmer Philosopher," was recently named one of 10 recipients of the inaugural James Beard Foundation Leadership Awards. He joins nine other visionaries in the business, government and education sectors who are responsible for creating a healthier and more sustainable food world. Fellow recipients include First Lady Michelle Obama and Craig Watson, vice president of Sustainable Agriculture at Sysco Corporation.
The James Beard Foundation is dedicated to celebrating, nurturing, and preserving America’s diverse culinary heritage and future. The foundation continues to promote the ideals of James Beard, a cookbook author and teacher who helped to educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts before his death in 1985. The organization administers a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships to culinary schools, and publications. The James Beard Foundation Leadership Awards were introduced to recognize specific outstanding initiatives as well as bodies of work and lifetime achievement, with criteria including excellence of work, innovation in approach, and scale of impact within a community or the nation. Kirschenmann will receive his award Oct. 12 during the second annual James Beard Foundation Food Conference, in New York City.
Kirschenmann has published articles in many books, including "Farm Aid: A Song for America and Sustainable Agroecosystem Management." His most recent book, "Cultivating an Ecological Conscience," edited by Constance L. Falk and published by the University Press of Kentucky, documents his evolution and lifelong contributions to the new agrarianism in a collection of his greatest writings on farming, philosophy and sustainability. In a unique blend of personal history, philosophical discourse, spiritual ruminations and practical advice, Kirschenmann interweaves his insights with discussion of contemporary agrarian topics. The collection serves as a resource to agrarian scholars and introduces readers to an agricultural pioneer whose work has profoundly influenced modern thinking about food.
A longtime leader in national and international sustainable agriculture, Kirschenmann is Distinguished Fellow at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, and president of the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, N.Y. His devotion to sustainability began early, as he grew up on his family’s 3,000-acre farm, which, in 1980, was one of the first to be certified organic. He continues to oversee management at the farm, now a natural prairie livestock grazing system that combines a nine-crop rotation of cereal grains, forages and green manure. In 1978, Kirschenmann helped organize North Dakota Natural Farmers, which later became the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society. He helped found and for 10 years was president of Farm Verified Organic Inc., an international private certification agency. In 2001, Kirschenmann received the Seventh Generation Research Award from the Center for Rural Affairs for his work in sustainable food and farming systems. He was also named a 2002 Leader of the Year in Agriculture by Progressive Farmer publications.
Offices for the administrative, editorial, production and marketing departments of University Press of Kentucky are found at the University of Kentucky, which provides financial support toward the operating expenses of the book publisher.
For more information or to purchase "Cultivating an Ecological Conscience" from University Press of Kentucky, visit the press online at www.kentuckypress.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, (859) 257-8716 or whitney.hale@uky.edu