Recognition & Awards

Since its founding in 1997, the Empire Ranch Foundation has been honored to be the recipient of numerous awards of recognition. In 2017 the Empire Ranch Foundation was recognized by the Cienega Watershed Partnership (CWP) with a listing on CWP’s Wall of Honor.  Following is a complete listing of awards and recognitions:

Pima County Board of Supervisors
July 28th declared “Empire Ranch, Walter L. Vail and Arizona Cowboy Heritage Day”
2018
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Walter L. Vail inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners
2018
Arizona State Preservation Office
Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Award–Cienega Watershed Timeline Project
2017
Arizona State Preservation Office
Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Award–Empire Ranch Historic American Landscapes Survey
2017
Cienega Watershed Partnership
Wall of Honor
2017
Arizona State Preservation Office
Governor’s Heritage Preservation Honor Award–Adobe Haybarn Project
2016
National Park Service
2016 Historic American Landscape Survey Challenge
2016
U.S. Department of Interior
Partners in Conservation Award
2013
Arizona Governor’s Archaeology Advisory Committee
Award in Public Archaeology for a Non-Profit Entity
2012
Arizona Centennial Commission
Official Event
2012
Bureau of Land Management
Excellence in Public Lands Partnership
2008
Arizona Preservation Foundation
List of Arizona’s Most Endangered Historic Places
2007
Hands on the Land
Member Site Designation
2007
Bureau of Land Management
Outstanding voluntary service in the conservation and protection of heritage resources on America’s public lands
2003
Bureau of Land Management
Dedicated contribution to the Sonoita Valley Planning Partnership and Las Cienegas Resource Management Plan
2003
Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission
Honoring long-term collaborative preservation and interpretation of the Empire Ranch by ERF & BLM
2001
U.S. Dept. of Interior
Take Pride in America Award 
2000
National Trust for Historic Preservation – Save America’s Treasures
Official Project Designation for Vail Ranch House, Empire-Cienega Resource Conservation Area
1999
National Civilian Community Corps
Appreciation Certificate
1997-98