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 |