September 25, 2024
The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) recognized six individuals, four distinguished groups, one state agency, one federal agency, and one private landowner for their dedication to advancing fish and wildlife conservation at the Association’s Annual Awards Ceremony on September 25, 2024, in Madison, Wisconsin.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
This year’s recipient of AFWA’s FIRST Lifetime Achievement Award is Dr. Karen Waldrop, Chief Conservation Officer with Ducks Unlimited, which recognizes and honors an individual who has served and/or supported AFWA and helped impact the advancement of the AFWA agenda as well as to natural resource conservation in their own organization or agency.
Karen’s expertise and passion for natural resource conservation have not only aligned perfectly with the goals of AFWA but have also set a benchmark for excellence in our profession.
STEPHEN KELLERT AWARD
Texas Master Naturalist Program, a program sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, is the recipient of this year’s Stephen Kellert Award. The Texas Master Natural Program excels at uniting people from diverse backgrounds and connecting them to the natural world. The program not only enhances participant appreciation for conservation, health, and well-being but also transforms them through the program’s mission into active stewards who teach these values to others.
PRIVATE LANDS FISH AND WILDLIFE STEWARDSHIP AWARD
This year’s recipient of the Association’s Private Lands Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Award is Terry Schmidt and the Schmidt Ranch for their proactive conservation and environmental practices and exhibiting outstanding stewardship of fish and wildlife resources on a ranch spanning 57,000 acres Scottsdale, Arizona.
Mr. Schmidt and his staff have worked tirelessly to conserve and protect habitat at a landscape level across the ranch’s 57,000 acres. Mr. Schmidt's decision to conserve the land and leave it “better than he found it” embodies good stewardship in all aspects!
CONSERVATION LAW ENFORCEMENT AWARD
The Conservation Law Enforcement Award recognizes exceptional achievement in fish and wildlife resource enforcement. This year’s recipient is the West Virginia Natural Resources Police Section, District IV. The officers of District IV showcase remarkable dedication and going above and beyond normal duties and responsibilities. Their Youth Hunt has been the pinnacle of public relations tools and sets the bar for the R-3 initiative creating recruitment, retention, and reactivation of hunters. The West Virginia Natural Resources Police Section, District IV is a shining example of excellence in Conservation Law Enforcement and embodies the very essence of this national-level recognition.
MARK J. REEFF MEMORIAL AWARD
Meagan Thomas, with Virginia Dept of Wildlife Resources, is the Mark J. Reeff Award recipient for a distinguished early career professional. Meagan is a visionary and has continually demonstrated strong leadership skills and capabilities in developing and implementing new ways to connect the public to wildlife conservation.
Because of Meagan, the Department’s Watchable Wildlife Program, considered to be one of the Department’s cornerstone programs, is expanding its capabilities in providing more opportunities for the public to view and enjoy wildlife, such as bird watching, and help further connect them to nature.
GARY TAYLOR AWARD
Sean Saville is this year’s recipient of the Gary Taylor Award, which recognizes an individual for outstanding achievement in the field of public conservation policy, specifically related to state fish and wildlife agency jurisdiction over fish and wildlife management.
In August 2016, Sean took the reins of the Alliance for America’s Fish and Wildlife Campaign with the goal of passing the bipartisan legislation, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, needed to prevent more than 12,000 species of fish and wildlife from becoming endangered. That advocacy work materialized itself through Sean’s tireless and passionate commitment to get funding needed by state fish and wildlife agencies to implement their congressionally mandated State Wildlife Action Plans and fulfill their responsibilities to conserve species in greatest conservation need. Throughout the campaign, as the voice of the Alliance, Sean’s expertise was sought out by members of Congress, conservation partners, and state agency directors.
THE ERNEST THOMPSON SETON AWARD
The Colorado Wolf Team with Colorado Parks and Wildlife is this year’s recipient of the Ernest Thompson Seton Award, which honors the efforts of a state agency and team leader(s) to raise public awareness of scientific wildlife management.
The Colorado Wolf Team has been a leader on many fronts, including delivering are public expectation for restoring a sustainable population of wolves, and listening to understand ranchers, wolf advocates and the general public’s expectations. The Wolf Team has consistently demonstrated leadership and communication skills, innovation, dedication, and passion for their work that truly exemplifies their impact in wolf restoration and management.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS
The Association presented two special recognition awards for outstanding commitment to the work of the Association to Richard Aiken with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Conservation Investment, and the Assessment Group (TAG).
Richard Aiken has been a principal figure in the National Survey of Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife Associated Recreation for the past 8 surveys spanning some 40 years. The breadth and quality of his research exploring the importance of natural resources to people, our economies, our commerce, and our society by a single individual is unprecedented.
The Assessment Group (TAG), a group of 40 R3 professionals, has demonstrated unparalleled dedication and commitment to advancing national efforts in recruiting, retaining, and reactivating hunters, target shooters, and other outdoor recreationists through the creation of the National Hunting and Shooting Sports R3 Practitioner’s Guide. With input from over 117 stakeholders and R3 professionals TAG identified the core needs of the blossoming R3 work force.
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The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.