Since 2022, DCA has recognized a chicken grower who goes above and beyond to make his or her farm environmentally responsible and compatible with neighboring properties with the George 'Bud' Malone Environmental Award. This award shines a spotlight on Delmarva chicken growers who integrate vegetative environmental buffers and other conservation measures, ensuring their farms are sustainable and are good neighbors. The winner of the award also receives a $500 prize from DCA. 

The award is named for Bud Malone, who had the foresight to begin our nationally recognized vegetative environmental buffers program, and who remains involved in DCA and Delmarva's chicken community. This program has resulted in the planting of thousands of trees, shrubs and grasses on family-owned poultry farms on Delmarva and led to improved relations between farm owners and neighboring property owners.

2025 applications are due by June 20, 2025.