EDGEFIELD, SC — Earlier this week in the Virginia General Assembly, the House of Delegates passed House Resolution 402, commending the NWTF for its 50 years of success.
“As we celebrate 50 years of wild turkey and habitat conservation, our good work has not gone unnoticed,” said Jon Joyner, president of the NWTF’s Virginia state chapter. “With our humble beginnings here in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1973, our mission has continued to expand, but our core values remain unchanged. Our first 50 years have been instrumental in bringing back gameable wild turkey populations, as well as preserving our hunting heritage through our outreach and conservation efforts. On a personal level, in my 30+ years with the NWTF, this organization has brought me a wealth of memories and friendships that will last forever. We are ready to launch into the next 50 years to build on the successes we have already achieved, as conservation never stops.”
The new resolution says:
“…WHEREAS, members of the National Wild Turkey Federation have played a critical role in reversing declining hunting participation through national investment in hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation efforts and by partner with states to develop opportunities to engage people from all walks of life. life in outdoor activities; since 2012, the organization has recruited and reactivated more than 1.5 million hunters; and
WHEREAS, the National Wild Turkey Federation and its members have invested more than half a billion dollars to conserve or improve more than 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat, forests, and grasslands on public and private lands since 1985, by while providing more than $8.5 million in research throughout North America to ensure future healthy populations of wild turkeys… That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for submission to the National Wild Turkey Federation, Inc., as an expression of the House of Delegates admiration for the tireless and selfless work of the organization and its members to advance state-led, science-based wildlife management and wild turkey conservation of United States and its habitat.
Read the entire resolution.
“A heartfelt ‘Thank you!’ Thanks Virginia DWR Director Ryan Brown and the. Brewer et al. Edmunds for co-sponsoring the resolution, and the entire House of Delegates for agreeing to adopt the resolution,” Joyner said.
The NWTF policy team and its volunteer leadership are working with state legislatures across the country to pass similar measures this year that enshrine the NWTF’s legacy and mission in state law.
Learn more about the policy and advocacy work of the NWTF.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested more than half a billion dollars in wildlife conservation and has conserved or improved more than 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to advance wildlife conservation, forest resiliency, and robust recreational opportunities across the US by working beyond borders at the landscape scale.
2023 is the 50th of the NWTF he anniversary and an opportunity to push the organization’s mission into the future while honoring its rich history. for his 50 he anniversary, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and the people of NWTF; and raise $5 million to build a $50 million endowment for the future. Find out how you can help us achieve these lofty goals.