NWTF Chapters Receive National Conservation Awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The NWTF presented its Acreage Award and its Partnership Award to NWTF chapters for outstanding achievement in leading regional grassroots conservation efforts. Representatives from the Florida NWTF State Chapter and Mississippi NWTF State Chapter accepted their awards during the NWTF’s 50th annual Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak.
The accomplishments of this year’s winners include:
Florida NWTF State Chapter – Acreage Award
The NWTF gives this award to the state chapter that accomplishes the greatest number of conserved or enhanced acres through direct financial contributions from the Super Fund and other funding sources in the previous year.
In 2025, the Florida NWTF State Chapter conserved or enhanced 158,109 acres. Most of the work contributed to the NWTF’s Habitat for the Hatch Initiative.
Approximately 151,000 acres were funded through the Florida Wild Turkey Cost Share Program, a decades-long collaborative effort between the Florida NWTF State Chapter, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Forest Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
The state chapter board budgeted $105,328 for conservation projects, which was matched with $1,944,538 in partner funds for the approved 27 projects, bringing the total investment for on-the-ground conservation for the wild turkey to over $2 million in 2025.
Nearly 3,000 acres were impacted on private lands through the NWTF’s National Forestry Initiative.
Florida's 2025 Super Fund projects included prescribed fire, roller chopping, applying herbicides, mulching and wildlife plantings; these are forest management practices that create needed nesting and brood habitat for the wild turkey, while also creating healthier ecosystems.
Mississippi NWTF State Chapter – Partnership Award
The Mississippi NWTF State Chapter allocated $175,000 toward the NWTF's endowed professorship program. This contribution in the summer of 2025 was the single largest contribution made by a state chapter to the endowed professorship program. 34 other NWTF state chapters also contributed to the endowed professorship program in 2025.
The Mississippi State Chapter’s additional partnership work includes collaborating with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks on the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund grant that was approved in 2025, which will enhance habitat across eight wildlife management areas and will result in improvements on 2,945 acres, using combinations of forestry mulching, herbicide application, reforestation and prescribed fire. This is in addition to an Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund grant awarded to NWTF in 2024 that focused on habitat work on private lands.
Moreover, the state chapter supported the successful effort to establish a wild turkey stamp through the legislative process in 2025. The stamp will help MDWFP fund critical wild turkey management work for years to come.
“We are proud to honor state chapters for bolstering the synergy between conservation partners and our on-the-ground efforts,” NWTF co-CEO Kurt Dyroff said. “The Florida and Mississippi NWTF state chapters continue to impact our natural resources for the better. Their lasting impact on the landscape has won them these awards.”
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 continues to unite a nation through the life-changing power of the outdoors.