The world famous and historic Chicken Ranch brothel in Pahrump has been honored and recognized as the 2006 Adult Entertainment Company of the Year by the Sin City Chamber of Commerce at its first annual Business Awards Program during the chamber's banquet Saturday at the Fiesta Rancho Hotel.

According to Michael Russell, executive vice president of the Sin City Chamber, the award the Chicken Ranch received is presented to the business that best represents the adult entertainment community.

Commenting on the selection of the Chicken Ranch as the first recipient of the award, he said, "This was virtually a unanimous decision by the chamber and its members and executive staff as the Chicken Ranch is a class operation and epitomizes the entrepreneurial spirit."

Accepting the award at the banquet on behalf of the Chicken Ranch was its manager, Deborah Rivenburgh, who noted that the brothel takes great pride in receiving the award because it reflects its achievement and success in the brothel industry.

She said she would also like to believe the award reflects the vital role that the legal, licensed brothel system in Nevada plays in protecting the health and safety of the public as well as making invaluable contributions to the economy.

Citing research studies conducted by medical institutions, Rivenburgh said Nevada brothels offer the ultimate form of "safe sex" because prostitutes working in them are carefully screened before they are licensed by health and law enforcement officials. They are rigidly monitored for diseases on a regular basis, and the use of condoms is mandatory.

In addition, for the customer, the sexual relationship is carried out in a safe and secure environment. When prostitution is conducted in a brothel, it eliminates all the illegal activity that surrounds other such forms in society, such as street crime, drugs, robberies, beatings and other types of violence that are prevalent where illegal prostitution exists.

Finally, she reported legalized prostitution contributes millions of dollars to the local and state economy through licensing fees and taxes that go to support and fund many government programs and services that are vital to the welfare of the citizens.

Rivenburgh added that the Chicken Ranch traces its roots back to 1844, when it was founded in La Grange, Texas, thus making it the oldest continual operating brothel in the United States.