WILDLIFE 2021

All Convention photos by David Smith

8TH ANNUAL PRIVATE LANDS SUMMIT

Article by Lorie A. Woodward

In Texas, the demand for access to nature and outdoor recreation outstrips the state’s supply of public land and creates an opportunity for creative, enterprising landowners.

“Population growth, urbanization and access to the outdoors is a familiar, foundational problem,” said CEO David Yeates opening the 8th Private Lands Summit held on Thursday, July 15 in San Antonio. “Today, we are going to highlight issues, opportunities and help define what success looks like for some landowners who have successfully opened their gates.”

The issue explored during the “Open Gates” summit boils down to supply and demand.

Supply? Texas is 95 percent privately owned. Of the 171 million acres that comprise its land mass, 141 million are privately owned working lands while just 1.4 million acres are public access, government-owned land.

Demand? Texas is gaining population faster than any other state in the nation. From 2000–2019, the state’s population grew from 20.9 million to 29 million; a growth rate of 15.3 percent. By 2050, demographers predict the state’s population could grow to 55 million and 60 million by 2055.

The daylong seminar featured speakers who tackled the issue from a wide range of perspectives and covered a wide range of subjects.

Hunting and Private Lands in Texas Justin Dreibelbis, Private Lands and Public Hunting Program Director

Hunting is one activity that can be enjoyed across the generations. Texas, unlike some states, has enjoyed a slow upward trend in hunting license sales, but the number of hunters as a percentage of the population is decreasing. TPWD is an active participant in R3 (Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation) targeted to hunters.

“If we all agree hunting and recruiting the next generation of hunters is crucial to our heritage and the state’s ongoing conservation effort, the question becomes where do we put them? How do we help landowners open the gates?”

Recruit, Retain and Reactive (R3) Hunters in Texas Panel Discussion moderated by Dreibelbis featuring Josh Crumpton, Spoke Hollow Outfitters Bryan Jones, Texas Youth Hunting Program John Mott, Any Kid Can Hunt Ranch

The panelists shared their experiences with mentored hunting, both youth and adult. While youth hunts generally require a larger support staff and focus on providing young people a “first-time connection” experience, the adult mentored hunts emphasize the post-harvest and food aspects of hunting. Adults, once they gain the confidence and skills, can immediately take to the field and become conservation advocates.

In their collective experience, the novice hunters need access to affordable, fairly priced hunts so they can continue to build their skills after their initial experiences.

Texas Outdoor Recreation Economy John Sheppherd, Executive Director Texas Foundation for Conservation

Texas has become an urban state and the Texas Legislature’s composition reflects that reality.

“Face it, the vast majority of Texas legislators don’t value green spaces, pristine water and wildlife and fisheries resources like we do, so to get their attention we need to focus on the outdoor recreation economy.”

According to Sheppherd, one of TPWD’s main missions is economic development. The state’s outdoor recreation economy is estimated at $36 billion/year and is responsible for more than 327,000 direct jobs, more than the oil and gas industry.

The Great Outdoors: Not Just a Walk in the Park Rodney Franklin, Division Director Texas State Parks

Demand for and use of Texas State Parks has been increasing over time but surged dramatically during the pandemic. This year’s park visitations are on pace to outstrip the record year of 2017; and because of repairs, temporary closures due to COVID, and transfers of historic sites to the Texas Historic Commission, the record-setting pace is occurring on fewer parks.

For the first time in 20 years, a new park is slated to open.

“Opening a park every 20 years is not going to meet the demand for the outdoors nor is it adequate to help make those crucial connections to nature that turn Texans into conservationists.”

Benefits Beyond Dollars: Why Landowners Open Their Gates Panel Discussion moderated by Dr. Maureen Frank Assistant Wildlife Specialist, Texas A&M University, AgriLife Extension featuring Don Kirchoff Kirchoff Farms Kathy Mueller, McKenna Ranch Don Schaezler, Warbler Woods

Because keeping working lands working is an expensive proposition, landowners often open their gates to generate additional income, but keep them open for more intangible reasons.

Kirchoff Farms is a former row crop farm that has been converted back to native prairie and serves as an informal education center and preserve. McKenna Ranch, located near the entrance of the Devils River State Natural Area, is a Christian camp in June and the rest of the year offers cabins, activities and, in the fall, hunting. Warbler Woods is a birdcentric preserve that includes 41 of Texas’ 56 warbler species on its sighted list.

Different business models, different parts of the state and some lean, tight years in the operation, but they all persevere. Why?

As Kathy Mueller said, “I love our ranch, I love this hard, beautiful life--and I want to share what I love.”

Monetizing Outdoor Recreation Trends to Increase Revenue on Farms and Ranches Panel Discussion moderated by Shelly Plante, Nature Tourism Manager, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department featuring Jimmy Dreiss, Flat Rock Ranch; Claire Barnhart, Barnhart Q5 Ranch and Nature Retreat; April Sansom, Selah/Bamberger Ranch Preserve

While hunting revenue is the primary reason that many people open their gates, other landowners have sought out additional income streams.

At Flat Rock Ranch near Comfort, the Dreiss family has installed 31 miles of mountain bike trails and host both bike and trail running races. The Barnhart family embarked on a 10-year plan to reclaim their ranch from the encroaching brush and now offers weekend getaways in three cabins marketed on Air BnB. J David Bamberger restored a ranch that he dubbed “Selah,” near Johnson City and over time has created a hub of conservation education for Austin and San Antonio school children and the general public.

Each of the operations started small. The owners learned as they went and changed their plans and offerings to meet evolving situations.

While the money earned from their endeavors helps fund their own conservation efforts, they are motivated by their opportunity to share their piece of the outdoors.

As Barnhart said of their ranch, “It is so beautiful and so peaceful that it is a shame to keep it just between us. We found we enjoyed it even more when people came to visit.”

Advertising Your Property: Online Marketing Opportunities Panel Discussion moderated by TWA President Tom Vandivier featuring John Bostros, River Access and Conservation Areas Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Allison Ryan, Explore Ranches and Mason Smith, Hipcamp

Marketing the opportunities available on individual ranches can be a start-up challenge. As demand for the outdoors has increased so have businesses that specialize in connecting consumers to opportunities.

Explore Ranches, founded by three Texas multi-generation ranch owners, and Hipcamp are two such businesses. Explore Ranches offers curated, turnkey, private ranch experiences for families and small groups, while Hipcamp is a global listing service where landowners can offer everything from rustic dry camping to RVs sites and cabins. Since its founding in 2013, Hipcamp has gotten 3 million guests outdoors.

As a completely different strategy, TPWD operates a lease program for landowners who have river access in Texas. The goal is giving float fishermen and paddlers a safe, private place to put in and take out their watercrafts.

In each case, the businesses and organizations began to create additional income streams for landowners, provide additional access to wild places for the public and in doing so create the next generation of conservationists.

What’s My Liability? A Look at the Texas Recreational Use Statute Brent Hamilton, Attorney, Brady and Hamilton LLP

The threat of liability keeps gates across Texas closed because “with access comes risk.” In the Lone Star State, two laws: the AgriTourism Act and the Texas Recreational Use Landowner Liability Act, offer protections for landowners engaging in the business of outdoor recreation.

To assure full protection, Hamilton suggested obtaining the liability insurance required, putting all of the necessary warnings in place along with collecting written waivers, so that the laws can be invoked if necessary.

To further protect themselves, landowners should find a trusted insurance agent and attorney to review their specific situation to ensure that they are covered to the full extent.

JOINT MEMBERSHIP AND DIRECTORS MEETING

Article by Lorie A. Woodward

On Friday, July 16, TWA’s officers, directors, staff and members gathered for the Annual TWA Joint Membership and Directors Meeting.

President Tom Vandivier called the meeting to order and those present elected a new slate of officers as well as three new and 55 re-nominated directors bringing the total number of directors to 198. Attendees also heard remarks from the entire officer team as well as eight program and committee reports delivered by 18 people.

The 2021-2022 officer team, which includes: President Sarah Nunley Biedenharn of San Antonio, Vice President Jonathan Letz of Comfort, Second Vice President Dr. Louis Harveson of Alpine, and Treasurer Nyle Maxwell of Georgetown, was elected unanimously by acclamation.

After inducting the new officer team, Past President Vandivier thanked the TWA membership for the opportunity to serve and expressed his gratitude to his fellow officers, directors, the staff and his wife Sonya and their family for their support during his term.

Together, he said, they had tackled and surmounted the tremendous, unexpected obstacles created by the COVID-19 Pandemic. During the last year, the team of staff, officers and volunteers successfully held an online Convention, transitioned to virtual events and education programming, moved into a new headquarters building and kept the organization financially strong in a year where the economy and therefore philanthropic giving was uncertain.

“We came through COVID with flying colors thanks to the creativity, hard work and generosity of innumerable people,” Vandivier said. “I am happy to report that TWA is strong, and the future is bright.”

Vandivier and the rest of the officer team also lauded CEO David Yeates’ seven-year tenure. Several months ago, Yeates tendered his resignation effective immediately after the convention to pursue other professional opportunities.

Yeates said, “Everything that has been accomplished during my time at TWA has been a collaborative effort between outstanding staff, dedicated officers and directors and inspired volunteers. TWA operates as a huge machine with many cogs, all of which are essential. I am proud to have been a part and will always be a TWA supporter.”

Meeting Highlights

CL 2.0: Two years ago, staff and volunteers undertook an extensive review of Conservation Legacy, TWA’s education programs. The effort culminated in a strategic plan dubbed CL 2.0 that expands the program’s reach and impact.

Steve Lewis, through the Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation, donated $2 million in the name of TWA’s first President McLean Bowman for the program expansion. Neal Wilkins, CEO of the East Foundation, announced that the East Foundation will join this new era of Conservation Legacy as a “Mission Partner,” by creating a sister education program that expands the foundation’s conservation education efforts in South Texas.

Membership: Under the leadership of the Dallas-based consulting firm Dini Spheris, TWA has embarked on an extensive review of its membership program with the goal of recruiting, retaining and better serving its members. The process is ongoing and members should expect to receive an email survey, which will help shape the final strategic plan and recommendations later this year.

Hunting Heritage: Using the Texas Youth Hunting Program as a model, the Hunting Heritage program is expanding to include adult mentored hunting opportunities. The goal is to help create field-ready participants who can immediately take part in and advocate for hunting.

Plant Your Legacy Campaign:

TWA’s new headquarters in New Braunfels brings the opportunity to restore 4.5 acres as a native prairie and in the process create an outdoor “living” classroom. The plan includes: prairie restoration, native landscaping, an amphitheater and a rainwater collection system. TWAF in partnership with Conservation Legacy has launched a campaign to raise about $900,000 to fund the effort.

TWA ELECTS OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Officers

Sarah Biedenharn President, San Antonio Jonathan Letz Vice President, Comfort Dr. Louis Harveson Second Vice President for Programs Alpine Nyle Maxwell Treasurer, Georgetown

Newly-Elected Directors

Terms Expiring 2024

Heath Grigg, Roger Parker, Joe Patterson

Re-Elected Directors Terms Expiring 2024

John Baker, Connard Barker, James Barrow, Kenneth Bell, Albert Biedenharn, Sarah Biedenharn, Al Bisby, Craig Bowen, Ruben Cantu, William Carrington, Chuck Cashdollar, Ken Cearley, Deborah Clark, Vannie Collins, Kevin Comisky, Matthew Cooley, Keith Crawford, Dave DeLaney, Parley Dixon, Steve Dutton, Jonny Fitzsimons, Fay Fitzsimons Walker, Chuck Greco, Jeff Hanselka, Rebecca Heildelberg, Rod Hench, Mark Hiler, Peter John Holt, Anson Howard, Karl Kinsel, Dan Kinsel, Brad Knolle, Bill Knolle, Jim Kolkhorst, Bart Koontz, Keith Lake, Spencer Lewis, Ben Love, Russell Marshall, Con Mims, Rick Nauert, William Osborn, John Park, Jay Robertson, Wallace Rogers IV, Michael Sasser, Tim Taylor, Jim Thompson, James Uhl, Crystal Watts, David Watts, Rex Webb, Jeff White, Craig Williams, Brad Wolfe

New Directors Emeritus

J. David Anderson, Susan Combs, Joseph Fitzsimons, Tom Vandivier, Bill Wilson

THANK YOU TO WILDLIFE 2021 EXHIBITORS!

STATEWIDE TEXAS BIG GAME AWARDS CELEBRATION

Article by David Brimager Photos by David Smith

On Friday night, during WildLife 2021, the Texas Big Game Awards (TBGA) celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a statewide awards ceremony recognizing the top hunters and landowners from across the state. The celebration was proudly sponsored by Nyle Maxwell Family of Dealerships. With an excellent system of private land ownership, technical resources from a great state wildlife agency and a dedicated group of hunters who continue to fund much of the conservation work that occurs in the state, our Texas wildlife resources are in great hands.

The 2020-2021 Texas hunting season was an exciting one for the TBGA program as we awarded over 1,100 total entries. There were also three Texas Slam awards recognized this past season. The Texas Big Game Awards is a free program, and could not operate without the generous funding support of our sponsors. Statewide Sponsors include Hixon Land and Cattle Co., Carters Country Outdoor Stores and Shiner Beer.

Our Texas Regional Sponsors include Lee Hoffpauir Outdoor Superstore, Game Guard, Leupold, Yeti Coolers, Skull Hooker, Western River Game Calls, Cyclops Lights, Cold Steel Knives, Kendra Scott Jewelry, NAP Archery, Walkers Game Ear, Stealth Cam, Kahr Arms and Muddy Hunting Products.

During the TBGA celebration, TWA also recognized and thanked its friends at Capital Farm Credit. Since 2010, TWA and the TBGA are proud to partner with Capital Farm Credit as the Official Platinum Sponsor of the TWA annual convention as well as TBGA’s Landowner Category. Just this season alone, TWA recognized over 500 landowners for their support of creating quality habitat and wildlife in Texas. TBGA also thanked Big & J Feeds for their title sponsorship of the Low Fence Whitetail Category this season.

2021 TWA VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR

Article by David Brimager Photos by David Smith

Each year, the Texas Wildlife Association staff recognizes someone from one of the three areas of our mission. This year, TWA recognized a volunteer from both the Texas Youth Hunting Program as well as Conservation Legacy program.

Volunteers of the Year Texas Youth Hunting Program

Gary and Kathy Glass accept the TWA Volunteer of the Year Award from TWA CEO David Yeates at WildLife 2021.

Our 2021 TWA Volunteers of the Year representing the Texas Youth Hunting Program are Gary and Kathy Glass. Gary and Kathy have been TYHP volunteers for 13 years and Area Coordinators for 9 years. As Area Coordinators, they were responsible for an area of the state that includes over 20 counties. In the 2019-2020 season, Kathy and Gary were involved in 12 hunts as Lead Huntmasters, cook or guide. And, in the 2020-2021 season, they were involved in five hunts. To put that into perspective, that is almost every weekend of the hunting season in 2019-2020.

Gary and Kathy run excellent hunts and they are involved from the very beginning of the new hunter recruiting process. Both Gary and Kathy are longtime Hunter Education instructors. They hold some of the largest Hunter Education classes in the state. Both have had numerous classes over a hundred students. They are legends in the Concho valley; it is likely that if you took Hunter Education in the last 15 years in the San Angelo and surrounding counties, Gary and Kathy were your instructors. Based on the points awarded by TPWD Gary’s next level of recognition is the Hunter Education Hall of Fame and Kathy is only two levels away from her Hall of Fame Award. The Hall of Fame is the highest level of recognition offered by TPWD Hunter Education.

For the past five years, every June, Kathy has also run the “Bring Your Daughter to the Range” event, a Kathy Glass initiative. Since its beginning, it has never had less than 100 young women in attendance. Congratulations Kathy and Gary as the 2021 TYHP Volunteers of the Year!

Volunteers of the Year Conservation Legacy

(L-R) Iliana Peña, Mary Pearl Meuth, Tamara Trail and Kassi Scheffer. Meuth and Trail were named TWA Volunteers of the Year at WildLife 2021.

This year, the CL program had two people who stood out and have shown true dedication, a real commitment of their valuable time and a willingness to share their knowledge and experience to the benefit of this organization. The first awardee was Tamara Trail, a landowner and conservation advocate. Tamara’s work experience ranges from endangered species issues and hands-on range management to program development and nonprofit management.

She gained her appreciation for conservation education while working for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. She then joined the staff of the Texas Wildlife Association and spearheaded the development of its Conservation Legacy program. Tamara served as the Vice President of Conservation Legacy until 2008 and then transitioned her support as a consultant, allowing her the time to raise her family and engage with other organizations.

The second awardee was Mary Pearl Meuth, a passionate steward of the land. Mary Pearl worked briefly for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Bell County prior to joining TWA in 2011 as the first L.A.N.D.S. Educator. Based in the Houston area, Mary Pearl was instrumental in developing the Wildlife by Design program, our bird Discovery Trunk and one-day teacher workshops. She also served the Brenham Community as the L.A.N.D.S. Intensive Educator.

She is currently serving as Program Coordinator for the Texas Master Naturalist Program. Along with coordinating the over 8,000 statewide Master Naturalist volunteers, Mary Pearl and State Master Naturalist Coordinator Michelle Haggerty compiled edited and publishing the Texas Master Naturalist Statewide Curriculum which contains 24 units including subjects such as geology, ornithology and wetland ecology. We cannot thank them enough for making the future of Conservation Legacy a passion project.

Newly-elected TWA President Sarah Biedenharn addressed the crowd at the General Session and Awards Luncheon during WildLife 2021.

WILDLIFE 2021 GENERAL SESSION

Article by Lorie A. Woodward

In her first “State of the Union” address, during the WildLife 2021 General Session and Awards Luncheon, TWA President Sarah Nunley Biedenharn highlighted the “opportunity of convergence.”

Despite the uncertainty of the past 18 months, TWA continued to move forward. Conservation Legacy underwent an extensive strategic planning process that culminated in a $2 million grant from the Elma Dill Russell Spencer Foundation to support CL 2.0 and a “Mission Partnership” with the East Foundation that committed to creating a sister conservation education program in South Texas.

TWA is currently undergoing a similar review of its membership efforts.

As a result, big changes are in store for Conservation Legacy, the organization’s education efforts, and TWA’s approach to recruiting, retaining, serving and engaging its members.

In the world at large, the pandemic prompted a wide resurging interest in the outdoors. TWA recently received a significant donation to help expand its fledgling Adult Mentored Hunting Program.

“The most exciting thing to me is the way it is all converging and is aligned to magnify progress, expansion and impact,” Biedenharn said.

For instance, Conservation Legacy is both a contributor to and beneficiary of the way TWA grows its membership base. Some people learn about TWA through Conservation Legacy education and outreach and become members because of the contact. As the numbers of members increase, so do their contributions of time and money. These contributions then support more programming in Conservation Legacy and beyond, so the cycle becomes self-perpetuating. “TWA is at a pivotal point in our history,” Biedenharn said. “Our challenge is to do even more of what we’re doing.” As part of the CL 2.0 effort TWA’s message regarding the public importance of private land stewardship will be refined. “Millennials are hyper-focused on sustainability,” Biedenharn, self-identified as a millennial, said. “What is more sustainable than private land stewards caring for our natural resources?” In addition, Biedenharn, who has been described as “a bridge between old and new Texas,” has created the Junior TWA Leadership Advisory Board. This small, invited group will bring the next generation’s perspective to bear on issues. Chronic Wasting Disease will continue to require vigilance, preparation, engagement and advocacy. “It is incumbent on TWA to help create the framework to protect our wildlife resources,” Biedenharn said, challenging members to prepare for a long but necessary fight.

TWA Director Susan Combs, a long-time public servant who most recently served as Assistant Secretary of Policy, Management and Budget at the U.S. Department of the Interior, delivered the keynote address at the General Session and Awards Luncheon during WildLife 2021. TWA Officer Louis Harveson, CEO David Yeates and Past President J. David Anderson welcomed the crowd of wildlife enthusiasts during the WildLife 2021 General Session and applauded efforts of leaders, members and staff in their past and onging conservation advocacy efforts.

Biedenharn, the youngest TWA President to date, said when she received the invitation to serve on TWA’s Officer Team several years ago, she considered the opportunity carefully and deliberately.

She began coming to TWA conventions as a child, participated in TBGA and considers her time with the South Texas Buckskin Brigade as life changing. Her family, friends and mentors shaped her ultimate decision by reminding her of the characteristics of good leaders.

“Good leaders don’t have to be the smartest and most accomplished people in the room,” she said. “A leader’s job is to bring her perspective and honor the perspectives of others. In many ways, my perspective, is a product of all of TWA’s hard work. I look forward to great things ahead for TWA.”

Following Biedenharn’s speech, TWA Director Susan Combs, a long-time public servant who most recently served as Assistant Secretary of Policy, Management and Budget at the U.S. Department of the Interior, delivered the keynote address.

During her tenure at the Department of Interior, she was charged with a massive reorganization of a federal agency nicknamed the “Department of Everything Else.” When she arrived, she found 11 bureaus, seven offices with innumerable programs and 574 Native American Indian tribes. Each entity tended to operate in “a silo.”

Problems ranged from turf battles and noncommunication between bureaus to computer and radio systems that would not communicate with each other.

“Less just say it was complex--and ‘entertaining,’” Combs quipped.

With the goal of “allowing people on the outside to find people on the inside,” she tackled and eventually simplified the complexity.

In the process, she learned the importance of data for landowners when dealing with any arm of the Department of Interior.

“Know everything you can about your piece of property,” Combs said. “Solid, irrefutable data is a key component to convincing federal agents that you are indeed the best steward of your property and your natural resources if you ever find yourself in a regulatory situation.”

Data can be self-collected including information gathered using GPS as you traverse your land, long-term records of vegetation, rainfall and temperatures, wildlife population surveys and harvest data, and livestock density records.

“Gather everything that can help paint a picture of the land’s history and its use,” Combs said.

She also suggested “hardening up” data by requesting it from trusted third party sources such as NRCS, AgriLife, Texas Parks and Wildlife or even graduate students and research scientists from regional universities.

“Objective third-party information about your property and the area is valuable, so be willing to work with other agencies,” Combs said.

Participants in the oil and gas industry and the livestock industry should expect additional scrutiny in the not-so-distant future.

“When they think of livestock they think of methane production,” Combs said.

If landowners find themselves facing a regulatory challenge, her suggestion is to start local and try to work it out “at home.”

“Avoid the temptation to jump the chain of command and start at the top,” Combs said. “The higher you go the more complex the process gets. At the local level, you will find people who want to help you solve problems. Again, data will help you convince them that you are the best steward for those resources.”

TWA Officer Louis Harveson, CEO David Yeates and Past President J. David Anderson welcomed the crowd of wildlife enthusiasts during the WildLife 2021 General Session and applauded efforts of leaders, members and staff in their past and onging conservation advocacy efforts.

2021 TWA AWARD RECIPIENTS

Ellen Carter was awarded the Ray Murski Friend of Wildlife Award at the WildLife 2021 General Session and Awards Luncheon. Travis Carter (l), grandson of Ellen Carter, accepted the award on her behalf from TWA officer Dr. Louis Harveson.

Ray Murski Friend of Wildlife Award

The Ray Murski Friend of Wildlife Award, the highest honor TWA bestows on members, is given to a TWA member who has made outstanding contributions to the Association and to wildlife habitat conservation. This year’s recipient is Ellen Carter.

Ellen Carter, and her late husband Bill, have been partnering with TWA for over 30 years. Their story is one of love, service, stewardship, and philanthropy. Ellen and Bill first met in New Jersey, got married and moved to Houston. They began servicing and building guns out of their garage. Eventually they bought a small property for a gun club, which later became Carter’s Country.

Together, the Carter family has expanded Carter’s Country to four beautiful retail stores with a total of 50,000 square feet, a warehouse and distribution center, a full-service gun repair shop, a public shooting facility (shooting range Houston) adjacent to the North Houston store, and commercial hunting and guiding operations in three main hunting areas of Texas and Colorado.

Through their successes, the Carter’s have maintained their values and their appreciation for Texas’ youth and wildlife. In the early years, Ellen and Bill supported TWA by donating guns for various fundraisers. As they learned more about TWA, their support continued to grow.

When TWA launched the Texas Big Game Awards in 1991 to celebrate hunters and their quarry, they needed a sponsor. Ellen and Bill Carter stepped up in a big way. They were one of the original three who helped launch Texas Big Game Awards across the state.

In 2001, Ellen and Bill wanted to change how they supported TWA and the youth that they served. They launched the Texas Big Game Awards Scholarship Program and have served as the title sponsor since the beginning. Since its inception in 1991, the program has distributed more than 275 scholarships with a total value exceeding half a million dollars to college students pursuing degrees in agriculture or natural resource related majors.

As landowners, Ellen and her family take stewardship seriously. As a testament to that, their beloved Sombrerito Ranch advertises their deer as “100 Percent Native, No Breeders, No Introduced Genetics, No DMP, All Natural.” In reference to Ellen and Bill, TWA Vice President Emeritus David K. Langford once wrote, “Every act of generosity, of which there were many, can be traced to two good hearts. I wish the world was full of Bills and Ellens, because it would be a much better place.”

Charly McTee Outdoor Media Award

The Charly McTee Outdoor Media Award is given to a person in media who has made outstanding contributions in their field and shares the philosophies of TWA. This year’s recipient is Shannon Tompkins. Tompkins has been communicating about natural resource conservation issues for more than 40 years.

Tompkins landed his first job working for United Press International and then later at the Houston Post where he focused on outdoor recreation stories. After six years at the Beaumont Enterprise, Thompkins was recruited by the Houston Chronicle where his column was syndicated across the state and country. After 29 years with the Chronicle, Tompkins retired in fall 2019. Tompkins provided in-depth stories on the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping and stories of conservation and private land stewardship. Although hired as an outdoor writer, Thompkins was always

Shannon Tompkins(l) was awarded the Charly McTee Outdoor Media Award at the WildLife 2021 General Session and Awards Luncheon. TWA officer Dr. Louis Harveson presented the award.

drawn to a deeper level of stories that focused on conservation and policy, not just the standard “hook and bullet” stories that were some common in that era. Stories on the Texas Wildlife Act that transferred regulatory responsibility from counties to the state, and stories that exposed issues surrounding the commercial redfish trade and gill netting.

In his 40-year career, Tompkins covered between 150-180 TPW Commission meetings. Former TPW Commission Chair Reed Morian recently quipped, “I always knew if the Commission decisions were sound by reading Tompkins’s column the next morning!”

In Tompkins’ final column “Reflections on Texas, the Outdoors and 40 Years of Writing and Photography,” he wrote: “I have caught a lot of fish, hunted a lot of covers, and paddled magnificent places such as the Devils River. But I’ve also held live ocelots and Attwater PrairieChickens in my arms, and placed my hands upon red wolves and tried to tell their stories and the stories of the people who worked in service to those creatures and so many others. Spending time with and learning from the scores of scientists, guides, field technicians and other sources has been a highlight. I never could have done my job without their time, knowledge, patience and trust.”

The family of the late Dr. Bob Dittmar accepted the Sam Beason Conservation Leadership Award.

Sam Beasom Conservation Leadership Award

The Sam Beasom Conservation Leader Award is given to a member of the professional conservation community who has made an outstanding contribution to the conservation of Texas wildlife and shares the philosophies of TWA. This year, it is awarded posthumously to Dr. Bob Dittmar.

On August 8, 2020, three of the best wildlife professionals in Texas died in a helicopter accident. Those individuals were Dr. Bob Dittmar, Dewey Stockbridge and Brandon White. TWA honors all of them by presenting the Sam Beason Conservation Leadership Award to the late Dr. Dittmar.

He was a husband, a father, grandfather, friend, Aggie, veterinarian, wildlife biologist, teacher and outdoorsman, conservationist, Christian and “super” TWA volunteer. Dr. Dittmar grew up on the land. He was a fifthgeneration Texas rancher who gave his life to service and conserving the natural resources of this great State. Dr. Dittmar attended Texas A&M University and graduated with his DVM in 1979. Dr. Dittmar bought the Kerrville Veterinary Clinic in Kerrville in 1982. He sold the practice after almost 10 years but continued working at the clinic.

Bob’s second career was with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, when he became the first state wildlife veterinarian in 2014. In that capacity, he worked with landowners, hunters, and biologists in the conservation of native wildlife. All of us are indebted to Dr. Dittmar, as he was at the helm when CWD was discovered in Texas.

Even before his time with TPWD, he actively volunteered with TPWD on legacy conservation projects like restoring pronghorns, mule deer, and desert bighorn sheep to their native habitats. Dr. Dittmar cherished those captures, spending time with his colleagues and teaching the next generation of wildlife biologists. Prior to his service with TPWD, Dr. Dittmar was actively engaged with TWA. He gave numerous field necropsies and participated in TWA workshops, seminars, youth hunting programs, Brigades and our Conservation Legacy programs. He served as director of the Texas Wildlife Association for more than 10 years, including serving on the Executive Committee for more than years. Dr. Dittmar also served on the on the White-tailed Deer Advisory Committee, Wildlife Health Working Group, Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force, institutional animal care and use committee for the Kerr Wildlife Management Area, animal translocation projects and the Texas Animal Health Commission.

Dr. Dittmar’s legacy to the conservation community is unparalleled, but his true legacy is with the family that he and his wife, Bernadine, raised.

TWA LIFE MEMBER AND TWAPAC RECEPTION

WILDLIFE 2021 AUCTION SUCCESS

Article by David Brimager

A record crowd gathered on Saturday night of TWA’s 36th annual convention to help raise funds in support of TWA’s mission. A big thank you to all the buyers, donors and bidders for making this year a resounding success! Thanks as well to auctioneer Terry Reagan and his team.

Special Thanks to the WildLife 2021 Convention Committee

Tucker Biedenharn, Chairman Ross Studer, Co-Chairman Clark Cadwallader, Randy Cadwallader, Mark Connally, Sterling Curry, Hunter Hawkins, Will Hughes, Chris Kleberg, Tucker Knight, Spencer Lewis, Patrick McNamara, Carrie Neuvar, Wallace Rogers IV, Brian Smith, Chase Studer, Louie Swope, Ryan Swope, William Thompson