A Collection of History
NWTF’s Tom Kelly Communicator of the Year award winner was selected for his dedication to preserving and sharing the rich cultural and conservation history of all things — wild turkey.
For 2026, Brent Rogers, of Ottumwa, Iowa, was named NWTF’s Communicator of the Year. This prestigious award was renamed in 2018 to honor Colonel Tom Kelly, the renowned poet laureate of turkey hunting and author of Tenth Legion. The national award recognizes individuals who excel in sharing the NWTF’s mission to conserve the wild turkey and preserve hunting heritage.
Rogers, an avid wild turkey hunter, historian, author and collector, received the award for his ability to communicate the NWTF’s message nationwide through writing, speaking and media appearances. His contributions and expertise, particularly on the history of wild turkeys, turkey hunting and turkey calls, are quite impressive. Equally remarkable is his dedication to educating audiences and sharing his knowledge across various media outlets.
Rogers has authored, co-authored and contributed to many books, and his work has appeared in many magazine articles. He is also a frequent guest on hunting and conservation podcasts. In addition, he has appeared in documentaries such as Mossy Oak’s The Colonel and the Fox and hosted panel discussions on wild turkey literature at NWTF conventions.
Rogers is an active member of the NWTF’s Grand National Call Making Hall of Fame and Grand National Calling Competition Hall of Fame committees and volunteers as a Collectibles Appraiser at the NWTF National Convention.
Rogers also owns one of the largest private collections of turkey-hunting materials, including magazines, books, videotapes, and calls, totaling more than 10,000 items. This personal collection fuels his knowledge and ability to share stories, facts and historical insights about many people, places and things directly related to wild turkeys, conservation and hunting.
As an outdoor communicator, his greatest work might just be the project he most recently helped launch. In March of 2026, Rogers became the co-founding director of the American Wild Turkey Historical Foundation. This new organization’s mission is to preserve, celebrate and share the culture, history and traditions surrounding the wild turkey. To help accomplish this, the organization is building the largest digital historical archive dedicated to the wild turkey: the Wild Turkey Archives.
This preservation project is a digital and streaming platform dedicated to saving and sharing films, articles, stories, callmaker profiles, artifact photos and much more. These are the things and moments that built the culture of turkey hunting as we know it, now well-maintained and available in one place.
The American Wild Turkey Historical Foundation and its Wild Turkey Archives include all aspects of culture, craft, and history related to the wild turkey. To learn more, visit: www.awthf.org and www.wildturkeyarchives.com.