02/24/2009
Illinois Landowner Wins National Award
Wayne City, Ill. — Tom Blasdel of Wayne City, Ill., was honored by the National Wild Turkey Federation as the Wild Turkey Woodlands National Award winner for practicing quality land management, as well as his community and NWTF chapter involvement.
The NWTF is a national nonprofit conservation organization that was founded in 1973 and has worked with wildlife agencies to restore wild turkey populations from 1.3 million wild turkeys in 1973 to nearly 7 million today. Now, NWTF volunteers raise funds and work daily to improve critical wildlife habitat, increase access to public hunting land and introduce new people to the outdoors and hunting.
Blasdel was recognized during the NWTF's 33rd annual National Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tenn., held Feb. 19 to Feb. 22.
Blasdel has planted more than 25,000 trees and shrubs on his 160-acre property and manages timber and controls non-native plants on his land to provide quality habitat for wild turkeys and other wildlife. He also plants food plots to produce food for wildlife.
In addition, Blasdel has enrolled acreage in the Natural Resource Conservation Service's Conservation Reserve Program, which helps farmers and ranchers address soil, water and other natural resource concerns on their lands in ways that benefit the environment and are cost-effective - essentially helping landowners accomplish more to benefit wildlife than they could without funding assistance.
Blasdel serves as president of the NWTF's Big Muddy Longbeards chapter and is an active NWTF Habitat Pro Staff member, a program in the Hunting Heritage Club that has local experts provide wildlife habitat management information to their community. He has participated in the Wild Turkey Woodlands program since 2004 and has used his property as a demonstration site for Wildlife Habitat Management workshops and field days.
The Hunting Heritage Club focuses on bringing all types of hunters into the fight to maintain the freedom to hunt and manage lands for wildlife. The program also promotes hunting as part of our North American heritage and encourages landowners to have a written management plan for their property.
"Tom Blasdel's habitat work is a perfect example of what the NWTF and Hunting Heritage Club promote," said Gary Burger, NWTF forester. "The Wild Turkey Woodlands awards highlight people around the country who practice sound land management and preserve places for wildlife and future generations to enjoy."
In addition to his involvement with the Big Muddy Longbeards chapter, Blasdel volunteers as a hunter safety instructor and lake monitor for the Environmental Protection Agency; serves as president of the Southeastern Illinois Pharmacists Association; and is an active member of Keenes Christian Church, the Wayne City Merchant's Association and the House of Delegates for the Illinois Pharmacist's Association.
Other 2009 Wild Turkey Woodlands Award winners were:
- 1st Runner-up: Joseph A. Cioni, DMD, Lebanon, Ill.
- 2nd Runner-up: Gordon K. Rhine, Rural Route Stonefort, Ill.
In addition, the following people were name outstanding land steward winners:
- G. Joseph Parell, M.D., Panama City, Fla.
- Randall Phelps, Clarkson, Ky.
- Clarence Smith, Cookeville, Tenn.
- Don Allex, Palm City, Fla.
- Bob Wright, Augusta, Ga.
