The National Wild Turkey Foundation (NWTF) was recognized for their 50 years of mission fulfillment with a proclamation issued by Governor Kim Reynolds, acknowledging the NWTF’s impact both locally and nationally.
Fred Long of Jefferson is a board member and legislative committee chair for NWTF, and his efforts were able to bring the proclamation into existence.
“Policy is about relationships and Fred has been the eyes and ears at the capitol for NWTF for years. Without his efforts, the proclamation would not have happened,” commented John Burk, district biologist for Missouri, Iowa and Illinois.
The proclamation recognizes the National Wild Turkey Federation “and its millions of members and state chapters across the nation” for their work to promote the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage.
In part, the proclamation reads: “…WHEREAS, over the course of 50 years, the National Wild Turkey Federation and its millions of members and state chapters across the nation, have worked with state, federal and nongovernmental partners to promote the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage; and
WHEREAS, the Federation has been staunch advocates supporting hunting participation through nationwide investment in hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation efforts, as well as investing in conservation efforts on over 22 million acres; and
WHEREAS, the Federation has also invested more than $8.5 million in research along the individual state chapters, such as the Iowa chapter, and specifically in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, to ensure a healthy wild turkey population in Iowa and making Iowa known as the “Land of Giant Gobblers.”
The NWTF has six goals for its 50th anniversary, each one ambitious: positively impact one 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 NWTF’s people; and raise $5 million to build toward a $50 million endowment for the future. ~courtesy of The Scranton Journal
