Bullard Awarded 2026 National Scholarship

“I have always had a love for turkey hunting, but I never dreamed that it could take me to places like this,” Bullard said. “Now it has given me the opportunity to continue my education in agriculture and preserving turkey hunting for future generations to enjoy. Thank you to the NWTF for this blessing; I won’t take it for granted.”

Bullard has signed with Redlands Community College in El Reno, Oklahoma, to be on its beef show team. She then plans to attend Oklahoma State University to study animal science and agribusiness. Her goal is to build a career in America’s food and agribusiness industry as a rancher and embryologist. She hopes to work with rural ranchers to help strengthen agricultural operations by expanding access to advanced veterinary services and reproductive technologies that can make a real difference for family farms. She said she envisions being a lifelong steward of the land while carrying on the hunting heritage that has shaped who she is today.

From a young age, Bullard learned that wildlife conservation and the preservation of our hunting heritage are responsibilities. Hunting is not just about the harvest to her; it is about land stewardship and making sure future generations can experience the same traditions that were passed down to her. Hunting is important to her because it connects her family across generations. Her great-grandfather, grandfather and father have all passed on a spring gobbler tradition built on patience, respect and appreciation for the outdoors.

“Along the way, I learned lessons that go far beyond hunting,” Bullard said. “Those traditions are something I want to protect and pass on.”

When Bullard and her family noticed turkey numbers declining in their area, they took action by legally trapping predators, improving habitat, and being selective about harvesting. Bullard watched populations recover in her area firsthand, which taught her that responsible management can make a difference.

Bullard is graduating first in her high school class where she is heavily involved in several different extracurricular activities, including the student council, National Honor Society, and playing the clarinet in her school band. She is also heavily involved with the Durant Future Farmers of America chapter, where she has participated in multiple different leadership events.

Through FFA, she has delivered speeches on wild turkey conservation at numerous speech competitions across the state, which helped spread awareness about the subspecies of turkeys in Oklahoma and the vital role they play as an agricultural staple. Speaking to diverse audiences taught Bullard how important communication and education are for successful conservation. She believes that conservation only works when people understand why it matters.

In 2021, Bullard accomplished the Oklahoma Turkey Grand Slam, harvesting all three subspecies — Eastern, Rio Grande and Merriam’s — in a single season. Traveling across Oklahoma to pursue these birds gave her a deeper understanding of how habitat, weather and land management affect wildlife populations. It also taught her the important role hunters play in funding conservation through licenses and tags that support habitat improvement and wildlife research.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation 
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to deliver healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF is committed to creating a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors.