2018 State Award Winners
Awards presented January 19, 2019
To nominate someone for an individual award, please contact Bert VanderWeele or Jon Gray
Click here for past years' recipients.
2018 Individual Award Winners
Outstanding Service
Roy & Tammy Munro (Timber Ghost Gobblers Chapter)
John Zimmer (Macomb County Lost Gobblers)
Josh Frantz (White River Longbeards &Bitely/Baldwin Chapter) (photo)
Jim Decker (Crossroads Chapter) (photo)
This award is given to individuals who have made outstanding multiple year contributions in various areas to the Michigan State Chapter as well as to their local chapter. They have served and provided leadership as either local or state chapter officers, special event or project leaders.
Outstanding Partner
Hal & Jean Glassen Foundation (photo)
This award recognizes the outstanding work, contributions and dedication partners have displayed in conserving wildlife, habitat and other natural resources.
Outstanding Conservationist
Brian Piccolo (MDNR Wildlife Division Biologist) (photo)
This award recognizes individuals here in Michigan who have proven themselves professionally (biologists or technicians) as exceptional stewards of wild turkey populations and habitat. These are usually unsung heroes who do on-the-ground work for wild turkeys and other wildlife.
Outstanding Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer
Daniel Prince (Roscommon County) (photo)
This award recognizes the outstanding work of a full-time state or federal Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer in case involvement, public relations, attitude, enthusiasm, professionalism and support of our Hunting Heritage. Officers are generally nominated by the Law Enforcement Division of the MIchigan Department of Natural Resources. The nomination selected by the State NWTF is submitted to the NWTF for National recognition.
Scholarship Winners
Emily Barnhart (Beaver Creek Chapter) (photo)
The Scholarship Program is part of the NWTF's Five Star Program. Applicants for the scholarship are judged on their scholastic achievements, leadership abilities and community and outdoor involvement. The winners of the local chapter scholarships are eligible for consideration for the Michigan State Chapter Award and then eligible for the National NWTF Scholarship.
Conservation Educator of the Year
***
The purpose of this exciting program is to recognize educators who demonstrate the most innovative use of the Wild About Turkeys Education Box and a commitment to teaching conservation education in the classroom. The state award winner is submitted to NWTF to be eligible for the National Award.
Turkey Cooperator Patch Design Contest Winner
Dane Lewis (Lake Orion)
The contest, sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State University and the Michigan Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, was established in 2003 to provide the concept for the official Wild Turkey Cooperator Patch which is issued on an annual basis.
Doug Johnson Volunteer of the Year
Sam & Ronda Giese (Turkeyville Toms Chapter) (photo)
This award recognizes outstanding volunteerism and dedication to the Michigan NWTF which is demonstrated by outstanding leadership and service that goes beyond routine at the local or state level.
JAKE of the Year
***
This award is presented to an outstanding Michigan JAKES member who has exhibited local chapter involvement with outdoor activities, conservation, community service and hunting activities and ethics.
Mentor of the Year
Ken Buchholtz (Bays de Noc Gobblers Chapter) (photo)
This award was new in 2015, presented to the person that has excelled in mentoring new hunters,
Roger Latham Outstanding Service Award
***
Roger M. Latham Sportsman Wild Turkey Service Awards are given to NWTF members who are not employed as professional wildlife managers, but have made significant contributions to wild turkey conservation. This is a national NWTF award.
Preservationist
Richelle Myers (photo)
This award is presented to the person that hunts wild turkeys, shoots at wild turkeys, and scares the s*** out of wild turkeys without touching a feather.
2018 L. A. Dixon Jr. Memorial Outstanding Chapter Awards
Total Dollar Club
Million Dollar Club
Whiteford Valley Gobblers
Half Million Dollar Club
Berrien County Trophy Toms
Grand River Longbeards
North Ottawa Toms
Slam Award Winners
World Slam (photo)
Improved in 6 of 7 Categories
Black River Longbeards
Cass River Gobblers
Fremont Area Chapter
Hillsdale Chapter
Lapeer Longbeards
MSU Wildlife Conservation
Presque Isle Turkey Trackers
Turkeyville Toms
Royal Slam (photo)
Improved in 5 of 7 Categories
Alcona Turkey Trotters
Beaver Creek
Crossroads Hunting Heritage
Elk Country Gobblers
Flat River Chapter
Menominee Strutting Toms
Midland County Gobblers
Slate Stone Strutters
Southwestern Michigan Longbeards
Sunset Shoreline Strutters
VanBuren Longbeards
Grand Slam (photo)
Improved in 4 of 7 Categories
3 Corner Habitat Chapter
Bitely/Baldwin Chapter
Beard & Spurs
Eaton County Strutting Toms
Flint River Donald T. Walker Chapter
Timber Ghost Gobblers
Waterloo Longbeards
Women in the Outdoors
WITO Events Net Dollars
Thornapple Valley WITO $2889.78 (photo)
Turkeyville Toms
WITO Memberships
Thornapple Valley - 34 (photo)
Turkeyville Toms
Wheelin' Sportsmen Benefit
Wheeling Sportsmen Net Dollars
North Ottawa Toms Wheelin' Sportsmen Dinner - $11,458.58 (photo)
Wheeling Sportsmen Memberships
North Ottawa Toms Wheelin' Sportsmen Dinner - 16 Sponsors (photo)
Chapters 100 and Under in Attendance
Highest Net Dollars
High Banks Longbeards - $15,940.43 (photo)
Turkeyville Toms - $12,514.08
Bitely/Baldwin Chapter - $12,082.93
Net to Gross
High Banks Longbeards - 48% (photo)
Turkeyville Toms - 46%
Bitely/Baldwin Chapter - 40%
Regular Members
Turkeyville Toms - 59 (photo)
Flint River Donald T. Walker Chapter - 52
High Banks Longbeards - 51
WITO Members
Timber Ghost Gobblers - 8 (photo)
Flint River Donald T. Walker Chapter - 5
Elk Country Gobblers - 5
Wheelin’ Sportsmen
Turkeyville Toms - 1 (photo)
Sponsor Members
High Banks Longbeards - 20 (photo)
Bitely/Baldwin Chapter - 14
Turkeyville Toms - 14
Waterloo Longbeards - 14
Fremont Area Chapter - 14
JAKES Members
Flat River Chapter - 52 (photo)
Crossroads Hunting Heritage - 28
Timber Ghost Gobblers - 25
Most Improved (Net Increase)
Turkeyville Toms - $5973.77 (photo)
Lapeer Longbeards - $5000.27
Bitely/Baldwin Chapter - $4177.17
Chapters 101 - 200 in Attendance
Highest Net Dollars
Southwestern MI Longbeards - $36,626.50 (photo)
Sunset Shoreline Strutters - $22,522.42
Beard & Spurs - $16,306.40
Net to Gross
Southwestern MI Longbeards - 69% (photo)
Sunset Shoreline Strutters - 54%
Beard & Spurs - 45%
Regular Members
Beard & Spurs - 100 (photo)
Southwestern MI Longbeards - 99
Macomb Lost Gobblers - 95
WITO Members
Eaton County Strutting Toms - 46
Macomb Lost Gobblers - 23
Beard & Spurs - 21
Wheelin’ Sportsmen
Southwestern Michigan Longbeards - 10 (photo)
Sunset Shoreline Strutters - 1
Sponsor Members
Sunset Shoreline Strutters - 35 (photo)
Southwestern Michigan Longbeards - 25
Tri-County Longbeards - 22
JAKES Members
Eaton County Strutting Toms - 50
Southwestern Michigan Longbeards - 44
Thornapple Valley - 37
Most Improved Chapter (Net Increase)
Hillsdale Chapter - $11,470.16
Southwestern Michigan Longbeards - $8834.17
Coldwater River Chapter - $7282.10
Chapters 201 and Over in Attendance
Highest Net Dollars
Bays De Noc Gobblers - $21,507.95 (photo)
Whiteford Valley Gobblers - $15,562.71
Presque Isle Turkey Trackers - $13,843.81
Net to Gross
Bays De Noc Gobblers - 51% (photo)
Presque Isle Turkey Trackers - 43%
Whiteford Valley Gobblers - 30%
Regular Members
Bays De Noc Gobblers - 158 (photo)
Menominee Strutting Toms - 108
Whiteford Valley Gobblers - 90
WITO Members
Bays De Noc Gobblers - 54 (photo)
Menominee Strutting Toms - 14
Whiteford Valley Gobblers - 7
Sponsor Members
Whiteford Valley Chapter - 32
Bays De Noc Gobblers - 20
Presque Isle Turkey Trackers - 11
Wheelin' Sportsmen
Bays De Noc Gobblers - 8 (photo)
Whiteford Valley Gobblers - 3
Menominee Strutting Toms - 1
JAKES Members
Whiteford Valley Chapter - 78
Bays De Noc Gobblers - 38
Menominee Strutting Toms - 24
Most Improved Chapter (Net Increase)
Presque Isle Turkey Trackers - $3339.01
Menominee Strutting Toms - $2187.76