Smith Receives National Recognition for Hunter Recruitment

Smith accepted the Mentor of the Year Award during the NWTF’s 50th annual Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak. 

“Receiving this award is very humbling because I know a lot of my fellow volunteers also put in so much of their time,” Smith said. “It’s an honor. My favorite day of the year is our chapter’s Wheelin’ hunt, and everyone that comes back year after year feels like family. It's really rewarding creating friendships, and it's really important for me to be a part of the effort to get these guys out in the woods.” 

Smith has been the driving force behind the NWTF Central Iowa Long Spurs Chapter’s annual Wheelin’ Sportsmen Hunt. He works closely with the Army Corps of Engineers at the Saylorville Lake property to ensure there are areas for Wheelin’ Hunt participants. The chapter’s more recent hunt partnered with Polk County Conservation and used the Jester Park Nature Center as the event’s base camp.   

Smith promotes this program through his extensive network with the local community. Smith and his chapter have hosted this event for almost 20 years, and each year, Smith is behind the scenes, recruiting new hunters and mentors to participate.  

Smith is also a constant advocate for the NWTF’s mission, always encouraging new members and volunteers to get involved.  

He is also a part of the largest outdoor days event in the state of Iowa, which sees several thousand attendees. Smith brings the NWTF BB gun trailer, giving children the opportunity to try their hand at shooting.  

Smith also makes artwork from wild turkey feathers and donates the items to banquets across the state for fundraising.  

He also worked with the Polk County Connecting People with the Outdoors program where he helped collect donated unused hunting gear for distribution to first time hunters, in an attempt to keep starting costs from becoming a barrier. When this program ended, Smith began participating in a turkey hunting series that promotes hunting ethics and safety to new and returning hunters. 

“Matt is one of our exceptional volunteers who never stops thinking about how to engage people in the outdoors,” NWTF co-CEO Kurt Dyroff said. “Whether he’s behind the scenes organizing a hunt, welcoming a first-time participant or finding new ways to remove barriers to access for his community in Iowa, Matt leads with humility and heart. His passion for helping others experience the outdoors is genuine and tireless, and it reflects the very best of the NWTF mission. It is only fitting that he is honored with our Mentor of the Year Award.” 

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.