As a component of the Montana Wildlife Federation (MWF) 74th Annual Meeting/Convention held Saturday, April 18, the largest and oldest - statewide - hunter/angler non-profit conservation presented six awards to individuals for their related work. These awards are given annually to recognize significant efforts toward the conservation of Montana wildlife and other natural resources and in protecting our public hunting and fishing opportunities.
"The MWF Conservation Awards Program is designed to recognize those individuals and organizations whose efforts have contributed significantly to wildlife conservation, hunting, angling and building a wildlife - outdoor legacy for all generations," said MWF president Tim Aldrich.
More than 70 people attended the 2009 Conservation Award luncheon at the Great Northern Hotel in Helena where the following recipients were recognized for their exemplary work:
As the FWP Commission Chair for the last four years, Steve Doherty from Missoula has been a significant ally for fish, wildlife and habitat through his unwavering support of the North American Fish and Wildlife Conservation Model. MWF president Tim Aldrich and son to the namesake of the award the DON ALDRICH-Conservationist of the Year Award presented Doherty the prestigious Aldrich award for his "outstanding conservation effort in Montana".
Another noteworthy MWF award is named after a well recognized former University of Montana professor and biologist Les Pengelly. This year MWF awarded the LES PENGELLY-Conservation Professional Award to FWP Region 5, Supervisor, Gary Hammond from Billings. The nominator described Gary as a "highly motivated and committed individual..who has worked tirelessly in keeping local sportsmen groups and wildlife interests informed and engaged
in issues."
Rewarding the activities and dedicated work by a sportsperson, the Holmquist Sportsmen Achievement Award is given in special recognition of a sportsman or sportswoman whose efforts have contributed immeasurably to the preservation of Montana's hunting and fishing heritage. Former long-time president of Russell Country Sportsmen, John Borgreen of Great Falls was the recipient of the 2009 Sportsmen award. Borgreen was not only nominated by several individuals but MWF also received many letters of support for the nomination. One individual wrote, "John's philosophy is that you should always leave a place a little better than you found it. As a true steward of the land, John stands for all that is right about Montana sportsmen."
For outstanding achievement in effectively conveying a natural resource conservation message and creating public awareness of conservation issues, Hal Herring was awarded the MWF Conservation Communicator Award of the Year. As a contributing writer for Field and Stream, New West, and High Country News, Herring's writing's have made it far beyond Montana. By bringing some of the more contentious issues to the forefront, game farming, canned hunting, energy development, poaching, public access, and public land ownership, Hal has helped to spread MWF and thousands of sportsmen conservation principles. Herring lives near Augusta, MT.
Private landowner's are important to sustainable populations of wildlife, MWF, hunters and anglers. In recognition of a landowner who has established cooperation and bridges of communication with sportsmen and sportswomen, and promoted the conservation of wildlife on their land, MWF awarded its Landowner of the Year Award to cattle rancher and owner of the Mannix Ranch, Melany Mannix from Avon. Melany had acquired the ranch from her father and continued his open to the public access policies until she ended up struggling with some poor hunter behavior. Mannix decided to acquire a couple of sections of Plum Creek land and install a conservation easement on her property. Hunters with permission can access the properties, elk populations are being managed better and wildlife can move more freely.
While only a second term, young legislator, Representative Kendall Van Dyk has left his mark in Montana. Repeatedly he has stood up for non-partisan conservation efforts, for collaboration among hunters, anglers and legislators, for good stewardship, and notable to many - the public's ability to access streams and rivers from country road rights-of-ways - the Bridge Access Clarity Bill (HB190). Van Dyk was the bill sponsor and a significant reason why the bill was signed into law less than a week before MWF recognized him with its Conservation Legislator of the Year Award.
MWF will next present its prestigious conservation awards at its Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon April 17, 2010.
