EDGEFIELD, SC—During the September meetings of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in Fort Worth, Texas, National Wild Turkey Federation Executive Co-Chairwoman Becky Humphries received the AFWA Special Recognition Award for her most 40 years of outstanding commitment to conservation and the work of the AFWA.
“I am honored to be recognized by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies,” said Humphries. “I am proud to have worked with AFWA as a wildlife professional in various roles: Chief and Director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division, and as Director of Conservation and Executive Director of the NWTF. These state agencies are truly tremendous partners with the NWTF.”
Humphries began her conservation career with the Michigan DNR in 1978 and continued to progress to become director of the MDNR in 2004. While serving as director of her state’s wildlife agency, Humphries also served on the AFWA executive committee. She also served on several other committees, including as chair of the Wildlife Health Committee.
After working in state government, Humphries ventured to another side of conservation by holding leadership positions with Ducks Unlimited and the NWTF. She began her tenure at NWTF as its director of conservation and has represented the wildlife conservation organization as executive director since 2017.
He was active in the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and has continued his active engagement with these and other professional associations during his successful time in the nonprofit sector.
AFWA has previously recognized Humphries’ conservation work by presenting him with the Seth Gordon Award in 2011 and the Ernest Thompson Seton Award in 2007. The Seth Gordon Award is the highest honor presented by the association and the Ernest Thompson Seton Award honors an agency and team leader. for leadership in scientific management.
For more information about AFWA or for a list of previous Special Recognition Award winners, visit fishwildlife.org.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number reached an all-time high of nearly 7 million turkeys. To be successful, the NWTF supported science-based conservation and hunter rights. Today, NWTF is focused on the future of hunting and conservation through Save the Habitat. Save the hunt. initiative. Since 2012, this 10-year initiative has already eclipsed goals to conserve or enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit or retain more than 1.5 million hunters, and open access to more than 500,000 acres for hunting and other recreational opportunities. This critical work will continue to impact wildlife habitat and our outdoors in the final year of the initiative.
About the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies represents North American fish and wildlife agencies to promote sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents members of its state agencies on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to promote favorable policies and funding for fish and wildlife conservation, and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the issues that matter most. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting and species-based programs ranging from bird, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, training in leadership and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.