Harvey Earns National Conservation Award
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Wisconsin NWTF volunteer Jerry Harvey received recognition from the National Wild Turkey Federation as one of the recipients of the Roger M. Latham Sportsman Wild Turkey Service Awards for his extraordinary dedication to the organization’s mission. Harvey received the Award during the NWTF’s 49th annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak.
Harvey, 80, said all of his hard work has been a labor of love.
“I’ve had a passion for wild turkeys since I was 15 years old,” he said. “When the NWTF came around, that’s where I put my total support. I’ve met so many wonderful people in this organization. It involves my passion for turkey hunting and turkey habitat improvement. This is a great nomination for me. Without a doubt, I wish I could divide this thing up and give it to all of the people who work with me.”
Harvey has been involved with the NWTF for the past 35 years and has accomplished much since he started volunteering in 1989. He co-founded Wisconsin’s Marshfield Area Gobblers, where he currently serves as the chapter’s president, banquet chair and treasurer. Through his leadership, Harvey made his chapter into the largest attended banquet in Wisconsin in the mid-‘90s, and they remained the largest for about five years. He continued to grow the NWTF by leading the charge to start new chapters in neighboring communities.
He has served as a member of the Wisconsin NWTF State Chapter Board of Directors since 1997, where he helped create Landowners Appreciation Days and served as chairman for a few years. On a national level, Harvey worked with the national JAKES coordinator to establish the Extreme JAKES magazine.
Some of his proudest achievements have all been related to mentoring youngsters. When he got involved with the NWTF’s JAKES program, there were only 72 participants in the state’s JAKES Art Contest. Harvey expanded this contest by sending invitations to every school art department in the state, and by the end of his leadership, there were more than 600 entries. Many of the entries won national prizes.
When Harvey served as chairman of the Wisconsin State Raffle Committee, he involved the High School Outdoor Clay Target League in the state raffle. In their first year, they sold over $2,700 worth of tickets, and half of the money went to help with the cost of sports supplies. In 2024, they sold over $8,000.
Recently, in 2023, Harvey established the Wisconsin Wall of Fame, which now has 20 members. He wanted to recognize the people of Wisconsin that worked to bring the NWTF’s message to Wisconsin.
“Since 1989, Jerry has been delivering the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage,” NWTF co-CEO Jason Burckhalter said. “Jerry’s passion for mentoring and volunteering can be seen through his passion in the NWTF’s Education and Outreach programs. His unique ability to connect with people of all ages has led to new volunteers and supporters of NWTF, and at 80 years young, he is still an outstanding volunteer!”
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 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.