EDGEFIELD, SC — The NWTF presented an Acreage Award and a Partnership Award for outstanding achievement in regional grassroots conservation efforts.
Representatives from the Alabama, Indiana and Tennessee state chapters accepted their awards during 50 years of the NWTFhe 47th anniversary celebrationhe annual convention and sports extravaganza, sponsored by Mossy Oak.
The achievements of this year’s winners include:
NWTF Alabama State Chapter – Acre Award:
The NWTF awards this award to the state chapter that achieves the most acreage conserved or improved through direct financial contributions from the Super Fund and other funding sources in the prior year.
In 2022, the NWTF Alabama NWTF Chapter conserved or improved more acreage than any other state.
Indiana and Tennessee State Chapters: Association Award:
When the NWTF’s Tennessee State Chapter held its annual Super Fund meeting in 2022, it had more funding requests than funds to distribute. One particularly important project that the state wanted to fund, but didn’t have the extra money for, was a state-of-the-art wild turkey research project. Through an approach never done before, the Indiana State Chapter offered to fund the project for the Tennessee State Chapter, as the research seeks to improve understanding of the ecology of the eastern wild turkey as a whole.
The research will investigate fertilization of the ovum and evidence of early embryonic mortality in wild turkey eggs collected from various locations in the eastern United States. This will be a cooperative study with several state wildlife agencies that have expressed enthusiastic interest in the study.
“Our state chapters and their volunteer leadership never cease to amaze me,” said NWTF Co-Executive Director Kurt Dyroff. “It is their innovation, collaboration and dedication that has enabled us to achieve many milestones. It is an honor to recognize the Indiana and Tennessee State Chapters with the Save the Habitat Award, as well as the Alabama State Chapter with the Acreage Award, at our 50thhe anniversary celebration.”
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested more than half a billion dollars in wildlife conservation and has conserved or improved more than 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to advance wildlife conservation, forest resiliency, and robust recreational opportunities across the US by working beyond borders at the landscape scale.
2023 is the 50th of the NWTFhe anniversary and an opportunity to push the organization’s mission into the future while honoring its rich history. for his 50he anniversary, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and the people of NWTF; and raise $5 million to build a $50 million endowment for the future. Find out how you can help us achieve these lofty goals.