The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation presented Yates Adcock with the 2007 Leonard Wyatt Memorial Outstanding Cooperator Award during a special presentation Saturday at the Southern Plains Beef Symposium.

The Leonard Wyatt Memorial Outstanding Cooperator Award is given annually to one of the 1,400 farmers and ranchers who work with the Noble Foundation's Agricultural Division. As part of its mission, the Agricultural Division provides farmers, ranchers and other land managers - called cooperators - with consultation services and educational programs in an effort to help them achieve their financial, production, stewardship and quality-of-life goals.

Criterion for the Leonard Wyatt Memorial Outstanding Cooperator Award is based on accomplishments within the farmer's or rancher's operation, their community service and their willingness to assist other farmers and ranchers, said Wadell Altom, Agricultural Division Director.

"When we discuss cooperator successes, Yates Adcock is always held up as an example of the best of the best," Altom said. "Not only has Mr. Adcock helped guide the ranch he manages to great success, he is also a tremendous person. His service to his family, his church, the Canadian Valley Electric Coop and the local conservation district clearly reflects his commitment to others. He demonstrates the caring and generosity that are characteristics we look for in the recipient of this award."

Adcock, who manages Robert Lorton's Middle Creek Ranch in McIntosh and Hughes counties, has been a cooperator with the Noble Foundation for more than a decade. He is the fifth recipient of the Leonard Wyatt Memorial Outstanding Cooperator Award. "This is pretty humbling," said Adcock, receiving his award. "I don't think I deserve it. I have had good people help me along the way. I feel very blessed. I owe a lot to Mr. Lorton. I appreciate all the opportunities and support he has given me through the past 20 years."

While Adcock has worked at the Middle Creek Ranch for more than two decades, he began looking for ways to improve the ranch's stocker cow operation 11 years ago when he became ranch manager.

"In my heart, I knew there was a better way to do it, a better way to run this place, but I didn't know how to get there," Adcock said. "Then I found the Noble Foundation.'"

Adcock struck up a relationship with a member of the Noble Foundation Agricultural Division, who introduced him to the consulting program. The Noble Foundation's agricultural consultation program is offered to land managers in the Agricultural Division's service area - a 100-mile radius around Ardmore. As part of the program, each cooperator is assisted by a consulting team that is comprised of agricultural specialists with expertise in forages, livestock, soils and crops, agricultural economics, horticulture, and wildlife and fisheries. The team works to tailor recommendations to address each cooperator's unique circumstances.

"We are so blessed to have a resource like the Noble Foundation to pull from," Adcock said. "They have helped me improve our operation tremendously. They were here to provide guidance and consultation as we went through the process of implementing changes to our operation, and they have continued to help us whenever we need assistance. I have recommended the Noble Foundation to several producers. It's a tremendous resource right here at our disposal."

As the winner of the Leonard Wyatt Memorial Outstanding Cooperator Award, Adcock received a plaque and belt buckle; his wife, Nancy, was given a bracelet; and their names were placed on a permanent plaque that is displayed in the Noble Foundation Agricultural Division Building.

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Photo:
Photo caption:	Yates Adcock (right) receives the 2007 Leonard Wyatt Memorial Outstanding Cooperator award from the Wadell Altom, Agricultural Division Director for the Noble Foundation. Adcock is the fifth recipient of the Leonard Wyatt award.

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News Release Issued: August 13, 2007

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.