Mercer Cattle, LLC, Richton, Miss., was formally recognized as winner of BEEF magazine's 2007 National Stocker Award in Reno, Nev.

Sponsored by BEEF magazine and Elanco Animal Health, the recognition included a $10,000 prize and an expenses-paid trip to the 2008 Cattle Industry Annual Convention to receive the award.

The NSA is divided into three categories: backgrounding/drylot stocker (feed-based); fall/winter stockering (forage-based); and summer stockering (forage-based). A single winner is chosen from each category, with the overall NSA winner selected from those.

The two runners-up divisional winners receive $2,500 in cash, sponsored by Elanco. Among the finalists were Mercer Cattle, LLC, winner of the fall/winter stocker division; Gallery Ranch at Dewey, Okla., drylot/backgrounding division; and Holcombe Ranch, Bartlesville, Okla., summer-stocker division winner.

For more detail on the Mercer operation, go to: beefmagazine.com/people/archive/beef_know_your_strengths/.

To view a video on the Mercer operation, go to: nationalstockeraward.com/.

Nominations for 2008 are now being accepted. For info, go to www.nationalstockeraward.com, or contact Wes Ishmael at (817) 249-4545 or wesleysink@aol.com.