CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Preston County cattle farm that uses crop rotation, prescribed grazing and good water management practices has been named the most environmentally responsible farm in West Virginia.

Greg and Laura Gibson's Mason Run Farm won the award for 2007.

Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass said this week their reward is 200 hours on a top-notch John Deere tractor from Middletown Tractor Sales. That's enough time for one hay season.

The Gibsons have 146 cows on 486 acres.

Their conservation practices include brush management, contour farming and pasture planting.

They also maintain an animal waste facility, seven watering facilities, five cisterns and a water pipeline. They even have a system to capture runoff from the rooftops.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Preston County cattle farm that uses crop rotation, prescribed grazing and good water management practices has been named the most environmentally responsible farm in West Virginia.

Greg and Laura Gibson's Mason Run Farm won the award for 2007.

Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass said this week their reward is 200 hours on a top-notch John Deere tractor from Middletown Tractor Sales. That's enough time for one hay season.

The Gibsons have 146 cows on 486 acres.

Their conservation practices include brush management, contour farming and pasture planting.

They also maintain an animal waste facility, seven watering facilities, five cisterns and a water pipeline. They even have a system to capture runoff from the rooftops.