Sanderson Farms awarded for water conservation in Texas

From left: Jason Barfknecht, Bryan Water Utilities Director; Tom McDonald, BVGCD Board member; Jason Bienski, Mayor-City of Bryan; Brenda Flick, Manager of Environmental Services for Sanderson Farms; Ross Harbison, Brazos Processing Division Manager for Sanderson Farms; Stephanie Shoemaker, Environmental Coordinator for Sanderson Farms; and Alan Day, General Manager for the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District.
Sanderson Farms has been recognized for its water conservation efforts at the company's poultry complex located in Bryan, Texas. The Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District, which protects and conserves the groundwater resources of Brazos and Robertson counties, awarded the poultry producer the Industrial Groundwater Conservationist of the Year award for the company's efforts to reduce their operation's impact on district aquifers.
The award was presented to Sanderson Farms' Brazos county processing facility during a Bryan City Council meeting in March.
As the third largest poultry producer in the nation, Sanderson Farms has stated that it is committed to managing their operations efficiently while protecting local communities' vital resources and minimizing the company's impact on the environment. In 2010, Sanderson Farms formally launched a Corporate Responsibility Program deliberately focused on environmental and cost efficiency goals.
Between 2008 and 2013, Sanderson Farms reduced their groundwater usage by 42 percent by installing new equipment designed to conserve water usage and incorporate reuse wherever possible. The company reduced their environmental footprint by nearly 273 million gallons last year.