Lapp Receives National Award for Excellence
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The National Wild Turkey Federation honored renowned custom call maker Michael Lapp with the Dick Kirby Award for his excellence in turkey call making and commitment to the NWTF mission at the NWTF’s 48th annual Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak.
“I'm deeply honored to accept this award,” Lapp said. “Dick Kirby was my friend and inspired my call making and passion for the NWTF’s mission. Hunting, conservation and our wildlife are forever etched in my soul. A heartfelt thanks!”
The award is named for turkey hunting legend Dick Kirby, who was the brains and heart behind Quaker Boy Calls. He also was one of the original members of the NWTF, serving nine years on the NWTF National Board of Directors in the 1990s.
Since the addition of the Hunting Turkey Call Division in the NWTF’s Grand National Callmaking Competition back in 1999, Lapp has won more major awards than any other call maker across all divisions of the competition. This success as a competitor has elevated his reputation among call makers and buyers alike, making his handmade calls highly sought-after year after year.
Lapp’s involvement in the NWTF goes beyond a successful competing call maker, though. He has donated many of his calls to NWTF local chapters and the NWTF National Convention, raising over $100,000 for the NWTF mission, making him an NWTF Centurion Life Sponsor.
Additionally, for the NWTF’s 50th Anniversary, Lapp donated a remarkable collection of calls for a special “NWTF 50th Anniversary Mike Lapp Call Package” raffle, which raised nearly $10,000.
Lapp has been a mentor to many now-renowned call makers. Each year he donates his time at NWTF’s Convention and Sport Show to teach up-and-coming call makers how to improve their skills and master the craft of call making, ensuring the callmaking tradition continues for generations to come.
“Mike is as much of a dedicated conservationist as he is an exceptional craftsman,” NWTF co-CEO Jason Burckhalter said. “We are proud to recognize him with the Dick Kirby Award for his extraordinary contributions to the NWTF mission and his immense talent as a custom call maker.”
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $9 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.