2024 NWTF Convention and Sport Show Recap

From across the country, dedicated NWTF volunteers and staff, conservation leaders, partners and the sporting community at large joined together in Nashville to celebrate all the great things the NWTF stands for: wild turkeys, conservation, the soul of the American hunter, sharing the outdoors with the next generation, an unfaltering desire to leave the land better than we found it and uniting a nation through the life-changing power of the outdoors.

We are beyond humbled by how successful our convention and sport show is each year, and this year was no exception.

We know it would not be possible without everyone coming together to make it happen. From all the event sponsors and exhibitors on the show floor to our volunteers and staff, it takes a village to pull it off year after year.

As the spring season is on the horizon, and as we move forward to deliver our mission throughout the year, let us continue with the same energy you all brought to Nashville.

Thank you for your positivity and energy this last week; it is infectious, and we are endlessly thankful for you.

May your spring be filled with gobbles!

Yours in Conservation,

NWTF co-CEOs Jason Burckhalter and Kurt Dyroff

Innovation Award: Dave Baron, Baron Technologies
Government Partner Award: Sen. Deborah “Debbie” Stabenow
National Scholarship Award: Ashlynn Kidwell
Educator of the Year: Angie Kruger
Corporate Achievement Award: Winchester Ammunition
Dick Kirby Award: Michael Lapp
Tom Kelly Communicator of the Year Award: Rob Keck

Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Award: Henry County Longbeards Chapter, Monocacy Valley Chapter, Y-Bridge Longbeards Chapter and Cleveland County Cutters & Strutters Chapter
Best Inaugural Event Award: Maryland State Chapter, Tri-County Strutters Chapter and Aitkin Gobblers Chapter
Membership Achievement Award: South Dakota State Chapter and Tenkiller WITO Chapter
Partnership Achievement Award: Minnesota State Chapter, Three Forks Wild Turkey Chapter, Franklin County Longbeards Chapter, Kaufman County Double Beards and Wisconsin WITO
Top Contributing Event Award: Wolf Creek Chapter WS and Ohio WITO Chapter
Conservation Field Day Award: Huachuca Goulds Chapter
JAKES Volunteer of the Year Award: Kimberly Capel
Annie Oakley Award: Stellane King
Wheelin’ Sportmen Volunteer of the Year Award: Michael Howie
Mentor of the Year Award: Lance Morgan

USFS Making Tracks: National Master Stewardship Agreement Team, Six Shooter Team, Shawnee National Forest
Wayne Bailey Award: Al Stewart
NRCS Making Tracks Award: Larimer Conservation District, Jonas Feinstein and Frank Falzon
Joe Kurz Wildlife Manager of the Year Award: Chris Henline
Land Stewardship Award: Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
Acreage Award: Alabama State Chapter
Partnership Award: Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Texas state chapters

Henry Mosby Award: Bret Collier, Ph. D.
C.B. McLeod Award: Chuck Sykes
Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award: Florida Fish and Wildlife Investigator Gregory Todd Hoyle
Roger Latham Award: Eric Olsen, Gary Stroud, Guy Hostutler, Joan Eisemann and Ralph Warzecha
Director Emeritus: Robert Doc Dettmer
Lynn Boykin Hunting Heritage Award: Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports

While we are still in awe ecstatic from the last week in Nashville, we are already looking forward to next year’s NWTF Convention and Sport Show. In 2025, we’ll be descending in Nashville once again Feb. 12 – 16. See you there!