Nominations for BEEF magazine's 2009 National Stocker Award, sponsored by Elanco Animal Health, are now open. The four-year-old competition highlights the importance of the stocker industry, recognizes leading stocker operators and gives stocker producers an opportunity to learn from their peers.

The winner receives $5,000 cash and expense-paid trips to the annual Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio and the BEEF Quality Summit in St. Joseph, MO. Two runners-up will each receive $1,000 cash from Elanco.

This year's application has been streamlined; only finalists will be asked to submit profit metrics for up to five groups of calves. Deadline for nominations is May 1. Learn more at www.nationalstockeraward.com.