WINTER 2014
Right on target
Tennessee shooters make noise on an international stage
Eagle vision
Brentwood Boy Scout surprises GOU with amazing gift
Conservation starter A look at TWF history with first Executive Director Tony Campbell
PLUS: Memphis student rallies Hunters for the Hungry club Social media photos and feedback Venison: It’s what’s for dinner 500
$
www.tnwf.org
WINTER 2014
SOUTHERN EXPOSURES 2013-2014 Board of Directors Dr. John O. “Jack” Gayden • Chairman, Memphis Peter Schutt • Vice Chairman, Memphis Robert Lineburger • Treasurer, Brentwood Terry Lewis • Secretary, Knoxville Chris Nischan • Sergeant at Arms, Nashville R.B. “Buddy” Baird III • Rogersville Allen Corey • Chattanooga Mike Chase • Knoxville Frank Duff • Chattanooga Bruce Fox • Clinton Bob Freeman • Nashville Monty Halcomb • Wartrace Dan Hammond • Franklin John Jackson • Dickson Sam Mars III • Harrogate Albert Menefee III • Franklin Tami Miller • Franklin Richard Speer • Nashville Ric Wolbrecht IV • Germantown
Advisory Board Anker Browder • Knoxville Albert Buckley Jr. • Franklin Jim Byford • Martin Jim Candella • Brentwood Charles Chitty • Chattanooga Philip Claypool • Memphis H.A. “Craig” Connors • Rossville Bill Cox • Collierville Nick Crafton • Memphis Bill Dance • Collierville Phillip Fulmer Sr. • Knoxville Paul Grider • Bolivar Mark Ingram • Maryville Mike Kelly • Nashville Jean Maddox • Nashville Jim Maddox • Nashville Colin Reed • Nashville Tom Rice • Nashville Brian Sparks • Collierville Brenda Valentine • Puryear Susan Williams • Knoxville Tennessee Out-Of-Doors
TWF friend and photographer Robin Conover captured this amazing sunrise photo of geese flying over Radnor Lake in Nashville. Kendall McCarter, Executive Editor Mark Johnson, Editor Kate Hill, Graphic Artist
ABOUT THE COVER: SCTP trap champion Samantha Smith is finding international success. More on page 16.
TWF Staff Michael Butler, Chief Executive Officer Kendall McCarter, Chief Development Officer Karen Vaughn, Director of Grants & Special Projects Shayla Beebe, Senior Director, Programs Mark Johnson, Director of Communications Janet Henderson, Director of Finance Sonya Wood Mahler, GOU Nashville Manager Kate Friedman, GOU Memphis Manager Andrew Peercy, TNSCTP Manager Matt Simcox, HFTH Manager Cameron Mitchell, Development Officer Angela Schmidt, Development Coordinator Kate Hill, Communications Coordinator Amy Colvin, GOU Program Assistant Tony Lance, GOU Program Assistant Katie Eadler, Executive Assistant/Office Manager Greg Young, Legal Advisor, Stites & Harbison, PLC
WINTER 2014
Right on target
Tennessee shooters make noise on an international stage
Eagle vision Brentwood Boy Scout surprises GOU
Conservation starter Tony Campbell put TWF on the map
PLUS: Memphis student organizes Hunters for the Hungry club Social media photos and feedback Venison/dry rub recipe 500
$
www.tnwf.org
Photo by Mark Johnson
Hutchison School senior Connell Erb is interviewed about Hunters for the Hungry’s “Hunger Challenge” at Mid-South Food bank in Memphis. See Page 24.
FEATURES 8
PROGRAMS
Eagle vision
Brentwood Boy Scout Daniel Brawner makes GOU his own project 12
Conservation starter
As the first executive director of the Tennessee Conservation League, Tony Campbell laid the groundwork for modern wildlife conservation in the state
16
Right on target
Hannah Houston and Sam Smith are making noise on the international trap and skeet stage
23
TN Scholastic Clay Target Program
New youth hunts take flight in Jackson and Cleveland
DEPARTMENTS 4 5 6 25 27
Chairman’s Corner From the CEO Development/Social Media Around the State Memorials /New Employees
WILD GAME RECIPE 26 Venison roast with dry rub
24
Hunters for the Hungry
Hutchison School in Memphis grabs hold of Hunger Challenge
Tennessee Out-of-Doors Magazine is the official publication of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation. Printed materials include natural resource and conservation news, outdoor recreation news and articles on pertinent legislation. All submissions are subject to editing or rewriting. All editorial, advertising and subscription correspondence should be mailed to:
Tennessee Out-Of-Doors
300 Orlando Avenue, Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37209
WINTER 2014 l www.tnwf.org l 3
CHAIRMAN’S CORNER
Hunters for the Hungry taps into the best of philanthropy As Chairman of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation board of directors, I look at our programs like a loving parent of three children; It’s impossible to choose which one I like best. That said, it would be difficult for me to rank any above Hunters for the Hungry if I was asked to name a near-perfect program.
Dr. John O. Gayden
The whole concept of HFTH is an inspiration. Simply
Chairman of the Board
put, the program addresses a problem as old as history itself — food insecurity — by connecting a free,
was able to have a hot, healthy meal and feel human
renewable, organic protein source with those who need
again. That would be enough to justify the program
it most. I feel so strongly about it, in fact, that I started
alone, but it’s the other details of Hunters for the
the HFTH “Hunger Challenge” last year to get teenagers
Hungry that make it sheer genius. The program allows
involved. Read more about this on page 24.
hunters to have a clear objective beyond only the joy of
There are lots of programs in our society that address
being in Tennessee’s great outdoors, the thrill of the
hunger relief and all are to be commended. When our
hunt, or the filling of their own freezers with healthy
neighbors are in crisis, especially children, it’s time to
food. Rather, it combines all of the aforementioned
put aside all politics, judgements, and preconceptions
benefits of hunting with man’s genetic propensity to
and get them a meal, no matter what the method. But
serve his fellow man. The various “ingredients” that
there is just something inherently wonderful about our
make up Hunters for the Hungry create an effort that is
program.
pleasing to just about anyone, even those who don’t
Take a quick look at the HFTH process. A deer hunter brings his harvest to the local wild game processor. The hunter asks the processor if the meat can be donated to
hunt or eat venison or have a particular connection with the out-of-doors. Hunters for the Hungry is an idea that took root in
the Hunters for the Hungry program to feed
1998 and has since provided more than 1 million pounds
Tennesseans in need. As a certified member of our
of venison to people who geniunely need it, but millions
program, the processor can butcher the deer for free or
of more pounds are needed. I challenge you this
at a much-reduced cost to the hunter.
Christmas season to consider making a donation to TWF
The work is completed, a local food bank comes and
so that together, we can make additional processing
picks up the venison, and distributes it to individuals or
available to Tennessee’s wonderful philanthropic
soup kitchens. It may be served to a single mother
hunters, providing them the opportunity to continue to
struggling to feed her children or a family that lost
serve their brothers and sisters in need.
everything to a house fire or a homeless veteran dealing with post traumatic stress syndrome. There is nothing confusing about this program. The outcomes are immediate and clear: a neighbor in need
Tennessee Out-Of-Doors
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The Three Pillars of Conservation Every once in a while, one of my friends or colleagues will stop and ask me, “How does the Tennessee Wildlife Federation do conservation?” Good question! My hope is that you will find the explanation provided in this article useful, and might even pass it along to someone you know who has an interest in wildlife conservation. First, let’s establish what “conservation” actually means. Webster defines it as: 1. the act of conserving; prevention of injury, decay, waste, or loss; preservation. 2. official supervision of rivers, forests, and other
landscape by the decisions we make, many of which compete directly against the needs
Michael Butler CEO
of our natural resources
natural resources in order to preserve and
or are unsustainable and incompatible with
protect them through prudent management.
conservation. People are critical to our conservation
3. a district, river, forest, etc., under such supervision 4. the careful utilization of a natural resource in order to prevent depletion. There are some important things to point out about
effort, because without us, there is no movement to place value on our natural resources. Programs are just a simple way we describe our collective efforts to effect conservation, and they can be very successful. From initiatives that raise funds to
these definitions. First, “conservation” infers
purchase public lands to policy efforts that inform
utilization of natural resources. This in turn implies
decisions about wildlife management, programs are
human usage of natural resources. Also, you see that
largely how conservation gets done.
the term “conservation” links our natural resources
Traditionally viewed as the cornerstone for
to the theme of stewardship (i.e., the responsible
conservation efforts, “places and things” provide us
overseeing and protection of something considered
our connection and passion for conservation, as well
worth caring for and preserving). Lastly, these
as the critical resources to support wildlife, fish, and
definitions point to sustainability or permanency of
the myriad of plants, insects, and other flora and
our natural resources, meaning that they be allowed
fauna of the wild. For many, the conservation
to persist into the future. All work together to create a
movement means only conserving and protecting
word rich in meaning and importance.
wildlife, land, and habitat. And while it is true that
Essentially, we can boil down the components
you can’t have conservation without conserving land,
needed to effect conservation into three succinct
intact habitat, and wildlife, the conservation of places
pieces: people, programs, and places and things.
is impossible without people and programs to ensure
People are the most necessary component of conservation for several reasons. First, those of us who care about conservation see it as our duty to
that this happens. The elements of Conservation So how does your Tennessee Wildlife Federation
ensure that the wildlife, lands, water, rivers, and
address these three areas to lead and be the most
forests have a representative who speaks to their
effective conservation organization in Tennessee?
value in our society. As humans, we dominate the
(See Butler, page 22) WINTER 2014 l www.tnwf.org l 5
T W F D E V E LO P M E N T
New options for online giving available Tennessee Wildlife Federation is proud to announce a new function on our website: You can now donate in memory or honor of an individual with the simple click of a mouse. Over the years, TWF has had the privilege of receiving mailed gifts made in honor or in memory of loved ones. Development Coordinator Angela Schmidt says that by adding this online function, TWF has made the process easier for donors. “You can now visit our website at www.tnwf.org , go to the Donate page, and under ‘gift designation,’ select the options ‘in honor of’ or ‘in memory of,’” says Schmidt. “When you choose either of those options, you can then enter the name of the person you want to honor.” She adds that the honoree or family of a memorial gift recipient can receive a notification of the
TWF has recently added the donation options of “In memory of,” and “In honor of.” Visit www.tnwf.org and click the orange “Donate” button to access the function.
donation. Just email Schmidt at aschmidt@tnwf.org or call 615-353-1133 to provide contact information. “We will be adding more developments soon to make the donation experience even better, but we
couldn’t wait to share this news with you,” says Schmidt. “Please consider giving the gift of conservation this holiday season!”
TWF lands 150 Days of Giving award on Day 149! Thanks to the help of TWF’s many social media and email friends and supporters, the Federation landed a $5,000 prize offered by First Tennessee Foundation on the day before the contest’s Aug. 21 deadline. For nearly five months, the bank conducted an online contest to promote its 150th anniversary. Each day for 150 days, people were encouraged to cast a vote at First Tennessee’s website for their favorite Tennessee non-profit organization out of hundreds of possibilities. The votes were counted cummulatively, and TWF won on Aug. 20. TWF Chief Development Officer Kendall McCarter says the $5,000 “came at a great time.” “It’s absolutely amazing how much attention this contest generated for us,” says McCarter. “We really appreciate everyone who voted!” Tennessee Tennessee Out-Of-Doors Out-Of-Doors
Presenting the $5K award to Kendall McCarter, center, are, from left: Doyle Rippee, chairman of First Tennessee in Middle Tennessee; Bryan Jordan, chairman and CEO of First Horizon National Corp.; Carol Yochem, president of First Tennessee in Middle Tennessee; and Charles Burkett, president of the First Tennessee Foundation.
SOCIAL MEDIA
From our social media friends Social media is one of our favorite forms of
for sharing photos, field
communication, so if you’re a Facebook user but
reports, and other types of pertinent
haven’t yet LIKED our page, be sure to do it and join
information.
the more than 18,000 other friends and supporters of
Remember, you can find us on
Tennessee’s wildlife and great outdoors! Facebook
Facebook at www.facebook.com/tnwildlife
and Twitter are excellent tools for staying connected
and on Twitter at
with your fellow outdoor enthusiasts in our state and
www.twitter.com/twfoutofdoors.
Photos
LEFT: Facebook friend Priscilla Morris posted this: Twice I saw this young barred owl in a spruce tree at Radnor Lake. It slept for a long time, and I took this photo during its rest. ABOVE: Jay Huron posted this shot of a northern flicker woodpecker on his property. RIGHT: Daniel Richardson captured an impressive trailcam pic of a nice 8-point buck.
Feedback On Nov. 10, we posted this: Give us a one-sentence response: What was your favorite thing about being out-of-doors this past weekend? Here are a few of the resulting comments. Gregory Dale: Muzzleloader opened and I just love sitting in the woods.
RIGHT: Lou Shunk says of this waterfall pic, I was having breakfast of homemade blueberry muffins and coffee with my better half at Greeter Falls on Saturday morning, alone together. BELOW: Michael King shared this pic with the caption, Kayaking the Cumberland River with my son and other paddling enthusiasts.
David Tucker: Enjoying God’s creation. Deborah Dunnington Yeary: I started feeding the birds and get such simple pleasure watching them. L.A. McAllister: Challenging myself with a tough hike to celebrate a milestone. Chris Keele: We had a great meal cooked on the camp stoves while the fire offered up some heat. Rhianna Garrett: Letting the smokepole thunder. WINTER WINTER 2014 2014 l l www.tnwf.org www.tnwf.org l l 7 7
F E AT U R E — G R E AT O U T D O O R S U N I V E R S I T Y
Eagle vision Boy Scout Daniel Brawner makes Great Outdoors University a project to remember By Mark Johnson
Daniel Brawner is nervous, and he has every right to be. In about 15 minutes, he will see his 10-year run as a Cub Scout/Boy Scout come to a head when he reveals the fruits of the end-all-be-all, Mt. Everest of scouting — his Eagle Scout project. It’s Monday, Oct. 27, and the 17-year-old Brentwood native is surrounded by mounds of new and used
But that’s not all. Hidden strategically behind The Hut is a gleaming
camping, hiking, and fishing gear neatly sorted in the
5-by-8-foot utility trailer wrapped in GOU and TWF
main room of “The Hut,” Boy Scout Troop 86’s small
graphics. Troop 86 is donating the trailer to GOU. Eddie
rustic cabin located in the side yard of East Brentwood
says he and Daniel used a little “elbow grease” to bring
Presbyterian Church, the troop’s charter organization.
the trailer, used sparingly by the troop, back to near-
There are 13 pairs of hiking boots, 10 tents, 20
mint condition. A Franklin graphics company called
backpacks, 400 LED flashlights, 20 sleeping bags, eight
12pt Signworks contributed by printing and applying the
camp stoves, 20 brand-new fishing rod and reel
full-sized vehicle wrap.
combos with five fully stocked tackle boxes, 500 wooden name badges, 10 coolers, and an indeterminate number of woolen socks, clothes, and other various goodies. “I think we’re ready, Dad,” Daniel says to his father, BSA Troop 86 Scoutmaster, Eddie
Sonya knows nothing about the trailer. She expects “a
‘GOU gives guys like me a chance to make a difference.’
Brawner. “Can’t believe we’re actually done.” Since April, Daniel has conducted the “Got Gear?”
couple of sleeping bags and a few pairs of boots” to be awaiting her. As he anxiously and repeatedly checks the parking lot for Sonya’s vehicle, Daniel explains why he chose such an ambitious Eagle Scout project. “I was ready to give back,” says the
Brentwood High School junior. “I’ve gotten up and spoken to several other scout troops about this project,
marketing campaign in the Brentwood area to collect
and I always challenge them to think about how
equipment for Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Great
fortunate we are to have the life we have.”
Outdoors University, which provides outdoor
Presenting his project to other troops didn’t come
experiences for underserved children from mostly
easy. As a child, Daniel was diagnosed with attention
low-income, urban areas. The Brawners created a logo,
deficit hyperactivity disorder and is challenged with a
signs and banners, sent direct mailings, and launched a
learning disability. For him, public speaking is even
social media campaign soliciting donations. In a few
more of a nightmare than it is for most, but he faced the
minutes, Daniel will be presenting the gear to Sonya
challenge head-on.
Wood-Mahler, the manager of GOU’s Nashville program.
“I told them to think about all the amazing things we’ve seen and done as Scouts,” says Daniel, (See Got gear?, page 10)
Tennessee Tennessee Out-Of-Doors Out-Of-Doors
Brentwood Boy Scout Daniel Brawner arranges donated hiking boots, part of the large gift he made to Great Outdoors University Monday, Oct. 27. WINTER WINTER 2014 2014 l l www.tnwf.org www.tnwf.org l l 9 9
F E AT U R E — G R E AT O U T D O O R S U N I V E R S I T Y
LEFT: Daniel and his father, Eddie, Scoutmaster of Troop 86, give Sonya a tour of the donated items at the organization’s facility in Brentwood. RIGHT: Sonya’s reaction to seeing the utility trailer for the first time brings a smile from Daniel and Eddie.
got gear? (Continued from page 9)
Eddie winks and nods at his son as a signal. “Oh, and I’ve got something else to show you
enunciating clearly. “And think about that little boy
outside!” says Daniel. He leads Sonya outside and
who can’t even camp in his backyard because it isn’t
around the corner of The Hut where the trailer sits.
safe enough or there’s nothing but pavement or he
Sonya stops in her tracks, her eyes wide.
doesn’t have the opportunity because he doesn’t have access to equipment. GOU gives little boys and girls like that a chance to experience the stuff we Scouts take for granted. And it gives guys like me a chance to
“What?!” she exclaims. “Are you serious?! Oh, my gosh!” “It’s yours,” Daniel says as Eddie beams from several feet away. “We thought GOU could use it.”
make a difference. I guess it hit home with [the other
Sonya is speechless.
Scouts], because they all clapped when I finished!”
An hour later, Daniel and several other Troop 86
Indeed, the four other troops Daniel addressed
Scouts have packed both Sonya’s pickup truck and the
— Troops 1 and 8 from Brentwood, and 135 and 137
trailer full with the donated gear. The atmosphere is
from Franklin — responded by donating most of the
festive as the boys high-five each other and
equipment. More was collected from anonymous
congratulate Daniel. Sitting on the porch of The Hut,
donations at The Hut’s drop-off bin in response to the
Sonya has had a few minutes to process the turn of
social media campaign.
events, and puts the gift into perspective.
“The reaction from the community has been
“I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but it certainly
fantastic,” says Eddie, an avid outdoorsman and
wasn’t this,” she says. “It was very exciting to see
longtime TWF supporter. “Every morning, we’ve been
some of the stuff that I knew we could use
excited to come over and see what was left in the bin
immediately. We literally would not have been able to
overnight, or what kind of donation has arrived in the
do some of the things we’re going to do this weekend.
mail. I think we’ve collectively struck a great lick for
Having this gear will allow us to reach more kids right
these kids.”
off the bat.”
Just then, Sonya arrives. Daniel hurries out to escort
Sonya says that a simple thing like having enough
her to the porch of The Hut, where the hiking boots are
day packs for each kid on a hike to use makes a big
lined up.
difference to that child’s experience.
“Wow, this is great!” says Sonya, inspecting the
“Oftentimes, one kid gets to wear a pack on the way
boots. Daniel reveals the gear inside The Hut, giving
out and another gets to have it on the way back,” she
Sonya a rapid-fire rundown of the items as Eddie
explains. “But when a child gets to wear his or her
watches with a huge grin.
own pack for the entire trip, it gives them the feeling
“Unbelievable,” mutters the GOU manager. “Wow.” Tennessee Out-Of-Doors
that they’re actually hiking, not just on a nature walk
HOW FAR CAN MY GOU GIFT GO? When you donate to Great Outdoors University, your gift may go farther than you realize. Each dollar can have a direct impact on how an underserved child experiences Tennessee’s out-of-doors. Did you know that...
$25 $55
Eddie says he “couldn’t be more proud” of the way Daniel approached the project. “The guidelines of the Eagle project stipulate that the scout needs to complete the work to the best of his ability,” says Eddie. “That’s exactly what Daniel did. He gave it everything he had.”
or walking around school with a regular backpack on. With Daniel’s gifts, each kid will be able to carry his or her own water shoes, water bottle, and personal items. It makes them feel independent. It will also prepare them for moving up to a big backpack for
can purchase pairs of water shoes for GOU stream strolls
provides one child the opportunity to go fishing with GOU for a day
8
45
carrying all their gear on an overnight trip.”
$100
provides 45 healthy lunches for underserved children on a GOU day trip
And that’s not to mention the added capacity the program will now have for overnight trips with the additional tents, sleeping bags, and other gear, Sonya says. “The sheer volume of the donation will allow GOU to reach exponentially more children,” she stresses. “This illustrates how one person — even a kid — can make a tremendous impact on an entire program. It’s an amazing lesson for all of us, and I’m truly grateful.”
$500 can purchase 25 rod-and-reels for GOU fishing trips
25
Daniel says his biggest thrill related to the project is something he hopes will happen in the future. “I like to think that one day, I’ll be out at a restaurant or something and a little boy or girl will come up to me and say, ‘Hey, aren’t you that guy who gave us all that gear? That made a big difference in my life!’” To learn more about Great Outdoors University, visit us online at www.tnwf.org.
10
$1,000
can buy 10 sets of caving helmets and headlamps for a small group to go wild caving copyright 2014WINTER © www.tnwf.org 2014 l www.tnwf.org
l 11
F E AT U R E — T W F H I S TO R Y
Conservation
Starter Under Tony Campbell’s leadership, the Tennessee Conservation League became a force on behalf of wildlife and habitat By Mark Johnson As the Tennessee Conservation League’s first employee — and the executive director of the organization for 23 years — Tony Campbell set the groundwork for what would become the Tennessee Wildlife Federation.
As executive director of the Tennessee Conservation League for 23 of perhaps the most formative years of wildlife conservation in the state’s history, Tony Campbell’s handprints can be found on everything from wetlands acquisition to the structure of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to even the placement of our state’s roadways. He was TCL’s first staff person, a dogged trailblazer for the interests of both wildlife and sportsmen on Capital Hill, and firmly placed the organization that would become the Tennessee Wildlife Federation into the public consciousness. And oddly enough, it could be argued that the
ratio. I narrowed it down to two schools, flipped a
success story of our wild things and places in
coin, and ended up at NMSU. I didn’t know a single
Tennessee over the latter part of the 20th century was
soul in New Mexico.”
directly related to the mild climate of Las Cruces,
Raised in heavily wooded North Central
N.M., the boy/girl ratio of the students at New Mexico
Pennsylvania, Tony was an avid hunter, fisherman,
State University (NMSU), and a simple coin flip.
and trapper, but had no idea what his college major
“In 1962, I had just spent nearly five years in the U.S. Air Force stationed at a base on the northern tip
might be. “At freshman orientation, I learned that NMSU had
of Maine, and I was ready to get out of there and go to
a school of agriculture,” he recalls. “Well, I always
college,” Tony, now 76, explains. “It would start
kind of liked farming, so I checked it out and
snowing in September and the ice would finally melt
discovered there was a wildlife management
in the lakes in May. I knew I wanted to go to school
curriculum. I liked to hunt and fish even more than
somewhere warm! That was my criteria. So I applied
farming, so it was an easy choice.”
to schools in a crescent from Miami to Phoenix and investigated important stuff like the male-to-female Tennessee Out-Of-Doors
By 1966, Tony had not only earned his degree in wildlife management, but also the notice of the New
F E AT U R E — T W F H I S TO R Y Mexico Department of Game and Fish. He was quickly hired as an Information and Education officer. “It was kind of a unique set-up, because everybody there was a law enforcement officer,” he says. “There
“I came here in May of 1972,” says Tony. “They paid me a great salary — $12,000 a year! I was in hog heaven and had no idea what I was doing!” As a young man with only a few years experience in
weren’t that many employees, so we all had to do
wildlife management and none at all in Tennessee,
everything. I can remember being with my good
Tony would become the “point of the spear” for
buddy, John Mechler, and chasing bad guys down
natural resource public policy and a legend among the
gravel roads at night, high speed with no headlights.
movers and shakers of the conservation movement in
Crazy stuff! You could never do that sort of thing
the Volunteer State. Tennessee Out-Of-Doors recently
today.”
visited with Tony in the tiny Nashville bedroom
In addition to chasing “bad guys,” Tony was gaining valuable, real-world experience in wildlife
community of Kingston Springs, where he has served as mayor for the past 16 years.
management. “I worked quite a while on a deer project that addressed poor fawn ratio,” he says. “For some reason, the majority of the fawns in southwest New
OOD: When you started at TCL, you were still very
Mexico were dying. Eventually, I determined that a lot
young in your career. What was it like walking into a
of it had to do with fire control. Most of the forests
well-established, completely volunteer organization
had been allowed to grow up and there wasn’t any
as a 33 year-old, a new Tennessean, and the only
green feed, and it’s critical for deer fawns to have
staffer?
succulent young vegetation for vitamin A and E. If
TC: It was scary. I was just a young whippersnapper, I
they don’t have
had no idea what I was getting myself into, and I think I
access to it, they
was just too ignorant to be overwhelmed. The TCL
get something called white muscle disease. It was an interesting project, but I
‘I was in hog heaven and had no idea what I was doing!’
learned a valuable lesson: You have to have public support to get things accomplished, and we didn’t
president at the time, Dr. Greer Ricketson, helped me get a small office down at the Mid-State Medical Center. There was a little bit of office equipment at the secretary’s house in Johnson City, but not much. OOD: Did the TCL Board of Directors ease you into the position slowly or throw you in headfirst? TC: They threw me in. I walked in there and the board
really have it. By the early ’70s, I was ready to try
of directors immediately tasked me with two projects:
something else.”
matching a $100,000 grant from the Meeman
As if on cue, fate took another turn for Tony when his friend, John Mechler, ended up in Tennessee. “He got a job with the TVA [Tennessee Valley
Foundation in Memphis over three years, and diversifying the organization by recruiting black members. Looking back on it, I really have no idea how I
Authority] and moved away,” Tony says. “We talked
did either, but somehow I did. I had absolutely no
on the phone every so often, and he called me out of
experience in fundraising, so that really kept me up at
the blue one day and said, ‘Campbell, I’ve got the
nights. I had to develop my own relationships, too. We
perfect job for you! The Tennessee Conservation
ended up working with the Nashville Sportsmen’s Club,
League is going to hire their first employee.’”
which was a black group. Their president at the time,
After a series of interviews, 33-year-old Tony found
Mitchell Parks, is still a good friend of mine today.
himself holding the keys to the future of wildlife conservation in Tennessee.
(See Campbell, page 14)
WINTER 2014 l www.tnwf.org l 13
Campbell
you didn’t say no to that. When I got down there, there was a big argument going on between two legislators
(Continued from page 13)
because one of them wanted to take the highway
OOD: Did you find that you had some natural
through Trenton. One of them turned to McWherter and said, “Tony’s not going to let them do it that way
talents that surprised you? TC: Yes, I think I was best at public policy and
because it’s going to cross all the wetlands, and he’s
bringing people together. That’s how the Tennessee
going to sue us.” McWherter asked me if that was
Wildlife Resources Agency came about, in large part. I
true. I said, “Yes, sir. It doesn’t need to go across all
hadn’t been at TCL very long when Ed Thaxton, Gov.
those wetlands.” He said, “Alright. We’ll take it down
Winfield Dunn’s environmental advisor, came to my
the ridge.” And that’s the way it went. From then on, I
office and told me there were problems with the
was often consulted on road construction. I think [the
Tennessee Game and Fish Commission and asked for
Tennessee Department of Transportation] hated to see
my help. At that time, you had the Law Enforcement
me show up at their meetings, but we were able to
Division, the Fisheries Division, and the Wildlife
change the attitude towards erosion control on these
Division, and they fought each other tooth and
projects. Those were the days when they were building
toenail. I recommended that we put together a panel
highways everywhere, and had a heck of a lot of
of nationally known experts to come evaluate the
impact on miles and miles of streams.
agency, see how it could be more responsive to the public, etc. The governor thought that was a good idea
OOD: In what way?
and that’s what we did. The panel recommended
TC: They were crossing a lot of streams and wetlands,
changing the whole structure and requiring officers to
especially in West Tennessee. If they didn’t elevate the
have a college degree in wildlife and making them
road, it screwed things up. Years ago, if you flew over
multipurpose by having them do wildlife management, fisheries, public relations, and the whole spectrum of things. I helped get the legislation passed and that
‘we can show that the species that are consumed have much greater populations today’
became TWRA. OOD: What was the level of interest in conservation at the state capital in the 1970’s and ’80’s? Was it more difficult to get things done? TC: I think it
was, yes. There was an education process. [Former Gov. Lamar] Alexander and [former Gov. Ned] McWherter were supportive. The Blanton Administration wasn’t. We had good relations with Winfield Dunn. In my opinion, McWherter was far and away the most effective in terms of getting things accomplished, especially in relation to wetlands conservation. For example, there was an ongoing debate over the route of a new highway being built between Jackson and Dyersburg. McWherter’s secretary called me one day and said, “Tony, he wants you at a meeting at his legislative office this afternoon.” Well,
Tennessee Out-Of-Doors
Tony lives in the Nashville bedroom community of Kingston Springs, where he’s been mayor for the past 16 years.
F E AT U R E — T W F H I S TO R Y West Tennessee and looked on the upstream side of most of those rivers, there’d be big stands of dead timber. That’s because those crossings weren’t wide enough, and the stream dropped all the silt off on the upstream side and killed the timber. You don’t see that as much anymore, largely due to our efforts. OOD: How was “grassroots” conservation different in those days? TC: There was a more broad-scale approach back then. I get a little frustrated now with all the species organizations because they take a very narrow view of [conservation] — turkey, trout, whitetail. I’m more comfortable with the old natural resource conservation groups that were out there advocating for everything from quail and rabbits to squirrels, raccoons, bears, and elk. Nearly every town had a sportsmen’s club; East Tennessee was covered with them. But now, society seems to have gone in a different direction. It’s not the “Home Economics Club” anymore. Now, it’s the “Frying Club” and “Crocheting Club” and so on. OOD: What do you see as the biggest challenge facing sportsmen and women today?
Tony says conservation in the 1970s and ’80s was largely about developing relationships and educating legislators on the principals of stewardship.
I’m proud of our involvement in Project CENTS, which stood for Conservation Education Now for
TC: I think it’s the public’s perception of the
Tennessee Students. That was a curriculum that went
consumptive use of fish and wildlife, and it goes beyond
into all the schools across the state to promote
just that. I think the forestry people are facing the same
conservation. Hundreds of teachers were trained on it
thing. People have been brainwashed into thinking they
and I’d like to think that it’s still having an impact.
shouldn’t cut any trees, but pretty soon, you’re going to
I would also mention our involvement in creating a
lose the red oak component
long-standing group called the
and we won’t have any habitat
Resource Agency Coordinating
for deer or turkey. It’s all part of managing. As far as wildlife goes, we can show that the species that are consumed have much greater populations today than they
‘We brought people together for the common good.’
Committee. This was composed of the heads of agencies like the U.S. Corps of Engineers, TWRA, TVA, and so on. They were constantly bickering, so I saw the need to go off to a state park
did 30, 40…even 100 years ago.
for a couple days and just hash
That’s because we’ve managed
it out. We actually had a constitution that stated that
them.
anything said in that meeting could go nowhere else, and guess what — we got a lot of nifty things done.
OOD: What do you consider your greatest accomplishments over your 23 years with TCL? TC: Definitely helping with the establishment of TWRA would be one. And I’m very proud of the
We all got to know each other, sat down and broke bread, and just talked. We brought people together for the common good. I would say that in my day, TCL played a big role in
Wetlands Acquisition Act, which has secured — and
creating a professional approach to natural resources
continues to secure — many thousands of acres of
conservation from the standpoint of the state. I think
valuable habitat for waterfowl. That was probably the
the efforts we put forth then are paying dividends
most significant thing we did in the 1980s.
today, and for that, I’m proud and grateful.
WINTER 2014 l www.tnwf.org l 15
Right ON
Maury County’s Sam Smith and Hannah Houston are taking their trap and skeet skill to an international stage By Mark Johnson
At the Maury County Gun Club near Santa Fe, Tenn., 18-yearold Samantha “Sam” Smith hasn’t hit a single target. “Pull!” she shouts. Bam! “Pull!” Bam! Two more misses. But rather than reacting with frustration, Sam is laughing. “I used to be able hit these things!” she says to her good friend, Hannah Houston, also 18. “This is crazy!”
(See Target, page 18)
Tennessee Out-Of-Doors
Samantha Smith, left, and Hannah Houston, both 18 and from Maury County, have made the USA Shooting National Team in the disciplines of trap and skeet, respectively, and are winning medals in international competition at consistent pace. Their journeys began around four years ago with practice at this very trap house located at the Maury County Gun Club near Santa Fe.
WINTER 2014 l www.tnwf.org l 17
F E AT U R E — T N S C T P birds flushing in different directions. In skeet, the
target (Continued from page 16)
Hannah, standing just behind, helps Sam set up correctly for a shot at the next clay target.
targets are thrown in a crossing pattern. Trap targets are thrown outbound, or away from the shooter. In the American version of trap, targets are thrown from elevated “houses,” while in Olympic style, targets emerge from ground-level bunkers at higher speeds.
“Well, I wouldn’t have a chance against you on a
Though the disciplines are different, both girls
trap field anymore,” Hannah says as she slightly
learned their “trade” through the Tennessee
repositions Sam’s stance. “That’s your territory. This
Scholastic Clay Target Program (TNSCTP) and more
is mine.”
recently, have set their sites on the Olympics through
The girls are standing at one of the positions on a skeet range, and Hannah, a freshman at Martin
the Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s designation as a USA Shooting Certified Training Center (CTC).
Methodist College in Pulaski, is one of the most decorated youth shooters in that discipline in the
‘A LITTLE SCARY’
state of Tennessee. Sam, a senior at Summit High
When they began competitive shooting some four
School in Spring Hill, has made a name for herself as
years ago, neither girl had aspirations beyond trying a
one of the state’s top trap shooters. Both girls have
sport that simply looked like fun. “I never even knew that shooting was a sport until
experience with trap and skeet, but chose to hone their focus on one discipline. Though both are clay target-shooting sports, skeet and trap were originally designed to simulate game
the eighth grade,” says Hannah, an Arkansas native who moved to Columbia with her family at age 3. “I heard an announcement one day at school that there
Hannah Houston, a freshman at Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, recently nabbed a team gold medal in the International Shooting Sports Federation World Championships in Grenada, Spain.
Tennessee Out-Of-Doors
F E AT U R E — T N S C T P was going to be a trap meeting, and I thought it sounded interesting. I grew up hunting with my family, so shooting was something I was already fairly comfortable with.” Hannah says her first team practice was “a little scary,” but she was determined not to be intimidated, having played softball and basketball for several years prior. “I was one of the only girls, and I was in a dress because we had chapel that day,” she recalls with a laugh. “It was essentially a room full of guys. I thought, ‘Oh … what have I gotten myself into?’ But I actually hit some targets that day and felt pretty good. I remember that it was really cold that day, but the adrenaline rush of shooting warmed me up quickly and discovered that I really liked it. Every time I pulled the trigger, it was exciting!” After shooting with the Zion Christian Academy
Sam, left, tries her hand on the Maury County Gun Club skeet field while Hannah looks on and offers a tip or two. The athletes have become close friends during their overseas trips to compete internationally.
“I thought, ‘Ah, I did that this summer!’” she
trap team during the 2010 season, Hannah was
recalls. “So I talked my mom into letting me try it,
practicing at the Maury County Gun Club one day
and showed up to the first practice with my
when a friend suggested she try American skeet.
granddad’s old gun. I couldn’t even use it, so I shot
“So, I went over to Station 7 and shot a whole box of shells,” she recalls. “I hit almost all of the targets! I’ve shot skeet ever since and never went back to trap.” Like Hannah, Sam, a Columbia native, was active in other athletics — like softball and soccer — and was introduced to competitive shooting in her eighth-grade year of school.
with a school gun for the first year.” Even so, by the season’s end, Sam was already
‘I heard an announcement at school one day... and I thought it sounded interesting.’
“The summer before, one of my cousins talked me into shooting clay targets in the
competing at a high level. “We ended up going to Nationals that year, and I got second place,” she says, referring to the Intermediate Entry Women’s Trap category. “I also got my first personal best, and I remember calling my uncle and saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I just did that!’ It was
really a big deal for me; I remember it well.”
backyard with one little pulley clay-target thrower,” Sam says. “Growing up with a bunch of boys, I was always up for doing crazy things and trying stuff even
THE ‘A-HA’ MOMENT Even with her successful first year, Sam says her
if I wasn’t good at it. I had never been bird-hunting
shooting goals were limited and the concept of
before, so tracking a target was really weird, but I
competing on an international stage was unthinkable.
kept trying. I think we were out there for three hours.” When Sam heard about a sign-up meeting for the school’s trap team the following fall, she responded with the boldness typical of her upbringing.
“I didn’t even know shooting was an Olympic sport!” she laughs. “When I started international shooting and going to big competitions like the Nationals in Colorado and even the Junior Olympics (See Target, page 20) WINTER 2014 l www.tnwf.org l 19
F E AT U R E — T N S C T P this!’ That’s kind of when I opened my eyes to the idea that I could actually go further in the sport.” Emboldened by her win, Hannah threw herself into training, and the results spoke for themselves. She was the Junior silver medalist in skeet at the 2013 Spring Selection in Tucson, Ariz.; the Junior Skeet At the ISSF Championships in Spain last September, Sam, second from left, had a strong showing with her fellow trap team, in the blue vests. The athletes in the red vests comprised one of USA’s skeet teams.
TARGET (Continued from page 19)
champion at the 2014 Spring Selection in Kerrville, Texas; the
Junior silver medalist in skeet at the 2014 USA Shooting National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo.; is a two-time member of both the USA Shooting
here in Tennessee, I realized that if I kept getting
Junior National Skeet Team and the USA Junior World
better at this, maybe I could be like [Olympic skeet
Team; competed in the World Championships in Lima,
gold medalist] Vincent Hancock, who did a clinic with
Peru, in 2013 and in Suhl, Germany, in 2014 where she
us at the Maury County Gun Club in 2012. That really
won the Team gold medal; and competed in the ISSF
motivated me.”
World Championships in Grenada, Spain, in September
Sam’s motivation would lead to a string of titles she scarcely could’ve imagined in 2011. She captured the
of this year where she won the Junior Team gold medal and was part of a world record team score.
Junior silver medal in trap at the 2013 Spring Selection in Tucson, Ariz.; was named Junior Champion in trap at the 2014 Spring Selection in Kerrville, Texas; was
SITES SET ON BRAZIL Chad Whittenburg, Tennessee CTC and Martin
the silver medalist at the 2014 USA Shooting National
Methodist College Trap and Skeet Team head coach,
Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo.; was
says the girls’ list of titles is largely a testament to
named to the USA National Junior Trap Team and
their work ethic and determination.
competed in Suhl, Germany, in June 2014; and
“Honestly, I think everybody is a potential Olympic
competed in the International Shooting Sports
athlete; it’s just a matter of unlocking their potential,”
Federation World Championships in Grenada, Spain,
says Chad. “It’s a choice, and Sam and Hannah have
in September.
made the decision to make it happen. I think the
Like Sam, Hannah had an “a-ah moment” that changed her thinking about the sport. “I decided to try shooting international skeet at the
support system of their families, coaches, friends, and the infrastructure provided by TNSCTP and the CTC program — all within the umbrella of the Tennessee
Tennessee Junior Olympics in May of 2011,” she
Wildlife Federation — has allowed that potential to be
recalls. “I had only practiced international for maybe
tapped.”
two weeks before the competition, but I still won a silver medal, and it made me realize, ‘Hey, I can do Tennessee Out-Of-Doors
He also points to positive attitude as a major contributor in the girls’ success.
“Those young ladies exhibit an amazing positive attitude everywhere they go,” he says. “It works for them both on the field and off. I can’t overstate the significance of this.” Hannah adds that shooting has improved her people skills and mental toughness. “Knowing how to take care of yourself by being in an independent sport is really big,” she says. “The pressure is all on you and you have to deal with it. It’s a great life skill.” But these are lessons and skills that anyone can learn, says Hannah, who along with Sam, has her sites set on the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. She encourages any young person with an interest to give it a try, and that emphasizes that with the advantages of TNSCTP and the CTC program, national — and even international — success is available for anyone willing to put in the time and effort. “If you want it, you can have it,” she says. “It’s so attainable. I know that, especially for girls, this sport can be intimidating, but you’ve got to put that out of your mind. Don’t worry about anybody else. It’s between you and the target. But there are so many people and programs available to help you reach your goals. Sam and I are living examples of that!”
Former TWF employee Chad Whittenburg has taken a position as head coach of the Martin Methodist College Trap and Skeet Team. Whittenburg was with TWF for more than nine years.
Whittenburg accepts head coach position After nine years of furthering the cause of wildlife conservation and youth engagement for the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, Chad Whittenburg has accepted a position as head coach of the Martin Methodist College Trap and Skeet Team. Chad came to TWF in 2005 after serving eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps and earning a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Tennessee Technical University in Cookeville. In his years at the Federation, Chad managed both the Hunters for the Hungry program and the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program at different times. Since 2011, he served as manager of the Tennessee Mitigation Fund and Wildlife Ecological Services, both TWF programs. In 2013, Chad was named head coach of Tennessee’s USA Shooting Certified Training Center, essentially an instructional portal to the Olympics for serious shotgun athletes in the state. He has since led several CTC Tennessee clinics and has been instrumental in guiding Maury County’s Hannah Houston and Samantha Smith onto the U.S. National team. TWF CEO Mike Butler says Chad will be sorely missed at the organization. “It’s always hard to lose a long-time employee, especially one that has had such a significant role in the positive growth of the Federation over the past 9 years,” says Mike. “But Chad was presented with a great opportunity to pursue a passion of his, and something that he is quite good at — coaching young people and young adults to be great shooting sports
Hannah nails a target on the skeet range at the Maury County Gun Club, where she still practices on a regular basis.
athletes. We wish him the very best in this exciting new role.” WINTER 2014 l www.tnwf.org l 21
butler (Continued from page 5)
The Federation sees the conservation needs of
needs of conservation through our public policy program. These efforts have produced historic successes like the Wetlands and State Parks Acquisition Funds, the Right to Hunt and Fish
Tennessee as a three legged stool, where each leg is
Constitutional Amendment, the Tennessee Valley
dependent upon the other two to insure the stool will
Authority’s board resolution halting the sales of public
remain upright, strong, and productive.
lands, the restoration of wild elk, and the
Youth Engagement - As previously mentioned, people are the critical component to conservation. Therefore it goes without saying that we must be
establishment of Tennessee’s version of the clean water act. Stewardship – It requires sound public policies and
vigilant in our efforts to instruct and raise up each
well-informed conservationists to effect meaningful
generation of young people to understand conservation
and large-scale wildlife, land, and water stewardship
and value our great outdoors, because they will replace
and restoration.
us at some point in the future as decision makers,
Specifically, for TWF this means focusing on habitat
elected officials, businessmen
establishment and
and women. They will hold the
restoration. Our Tennessee
future of our wildlife, lands, and
Mitigation Fund works to
waters in their own hands.
restore wetlands, the most
To ensure that this important
highly impacted habitat type
pipeline is well maintained and
in our state. We also engage
productive, TWF develops the
those people and companies
next generation of
interested in establishing high
conservationists primarily
quality wildlife habitats and
through our Tennessee
wildlife plans to promote
Scholastic Clay Target Program
these resources on their own
and Great Outdoors University
properties.
program. Both of these
Lastly, we leverage our work
programs reach thousands of
in public policy with these
Tennessee’s youth each year and
efforts to impact conservation
have been shown to increase a
practices at a larger economy
young person’s understanding,
of scale. Collectively these
appreciation, and interest in
efforts work to protect and
Tennessee’s great outdoors. Public Policy – As these generations of young people assume their careers and live their lives, they engage
create outstanding lands, waters, and wildlife that the public can use and enjoy. Take some time to visit our website at www.tnwf.org
in moving our government forward through their right
and find where your interests are as they relate to
to vote and engage in the governance processes of our
conservation and the Federation’s work. Let us be
cities, states, and country. This means that sound,
vigilant in remembering that the wildlife and natural
science-based public policies must be developed,
resource bounties we enjoy today did not happen by
defended, and maintained to ensure that wildlife and
accident. They are the results of the focused efforts of
natural resource management are properly governed
the visionaries who came before us and made certain
by our public institutions charged with these duties. In
that their conservation dreams were realized. As we
addition to being proactive in this area of conservation,
continue down this path, together we can make certain
we must also be prepared to stop ill-conceived and bad
that the future of Tennessee’s great outdoors is secure.
policies that seek to erode our public conservation infrastructure. Stopping the “bad” bills and efforts is sometimes as important, if not more, than passing the “good” ones. We engage people to carry the banner for conservation. The Federation actively communicates and informs the public regarding the challenges and Tennessee Out-Of-Doors
Thanks for your support!
PROGRAMS — TNSCTP
TWF adds new dove hunts to schedule In addition to its popular annual hunt in Rogersville, TWF helped conduct two new dove hunts this September in Jackson and Cleveland and attracted some 90 youth hunters. In cooperation with TWRA, TWF staff provided memorable days for the young hunters, many of whom had never been in the field before. “We are excited about the growth of our youth hunts,” says Kendall McCarter, TWF chief development officer. “This is a wonderful way to engage kids in our Participants fire at birds at TWF’s Sept. 1 Youth Dove Hunt in Jackson on the farm of TWF friend Joe Wright.
great outdoors. TWF will be placing even more focus on youth hunts in 2015 and beyond.”
Jackson hunt organizers included, from left, Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program manager Andrew Peercy, TWRA’s Jerry Strom, landowner Joe Wright, and TWF Chief Development Officer Kendall McCarter. According to McCarter, TWF will place additional emphasis on youth hunts in the coming months.
A coach helps youth participants spot fast-flying doves at the Sept. 6 hunt in Rogersville.
The groups paused for photos at, from top, the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Cleveland, the Joe Wright farm in Jackson, and the Terry Whitson farm in Rogersville. WINTER 2014 l www.tnwf.org l 23
PROGRAMS — HUNTERS FOR THE HUNGRY
Hutchison student drives Hunger Challenge Some 48 juniors and seniors at Hutchison School in Memphis are creating a buzz in Memphis this fall and winter with their Hunters for their Hungry (HFTH) Club, part of TWF’s “Hunger Challenge” developed last year by Board Chair Dr. Jack Gayden. “We’re really excited about it,” says club chairperson Connell Erb, 18. “I’ve never been involved in anything that has such a dramatic, direct impact. I love it.” Connell says last year, Dr. Gayden, a family friend, brought the idea to her of starting a friendly competition between Hutchison School and Memphis University School to raise funds and community awareness for HFTH. This year, the Challenge also includes St. George’s, St. Benedict’s, Collierville, and St. Agnes high schools. “The club was smaller last year, but we managed
Some of the 48 members of the Hutchison School HFTH Club display last year’s Hunger Challenge first-place trophy during an October visit to the Memphis Mid-South Food Bank, one of the state’s largest beneficiaries of the program.
to raise a good deal of money and won the contest,” says Connell, whose club raised more than $7,000 last year. “This year, TWF introduced a point system with more activities. There are four additional schools in the competition, so it’s even more fun.” She adds that many of her friends now have a different perspective on hunting. “People tended to be skeptical at first, but after I explained it, they got it,” she says. “It’s such a cool program, I think it’s impossible not to get behind it.”
TWF program intern Michael Folk speaks to the Hutchison club members about the signficance of their efforts on behalf of hunger relief.
LEFT: Mid-South representative Andrew Bell conducts a tour of the facilitites for the Hutchison group as HFTH manager Matt Simcox, left, looks on. Challenge founder Dr. Jack Gayden credits Simcox and Folk for making the project a reality. RIGHT: Hutchison School senior Connell Erb says the Hunger Challenge has been “my favorite community service project out of a bunch that I’ve done.” Tennessee Tennessee Out-Of-Doors Out-Of-Doors
T W F A R O U N D T H E S TAT E
The Tennessee Wildlife Federation is active across the state, from Mountain City to Memphis. Here are some quick looks at things going on in the world of TWF’s youth engagement and wildlife conservation across Tennessee.
Campbell Davidson
Dyer
Anderson
Marshall Shelby
SHELBY COUNTY
CAMPBELL COUNTY
HFTH visits with 5th graders.
Lewis tags elk at Hatfield Knob.
Hunters for the Hungry took part in
TWF board member Terry Lewis joined state
a Nov. 6 Ag Day with 5th graders at
biologists and volunteers to tag a bull elk at
the Memphis Agri-Center. Several
the Hatfield Knob Viewing Area Oct. 28 for
hundred youth attended
data collection.
presentations by HFTH staff.
MARSHALL COUNTY
ANDERSON COUNTY
Park hosts HFTH Triathlon.
NRA coachs’ class scheduled.
Around 40 athletes participated in the
TNSCTP will conduct NRA Level I
HFTH Triathlon Sept. 13 at the Step Back in
training classes for all coaches and
Time Festival at Henry Horton State Park.
assistant coaches Dec. 12-14 in Oak
After a nine-mile run/bike/kayak, Cody
Ridge.
West took first place.
DYER COUNTY
DAVIDSON COUNTY
Davis P. Rice Memorial Youth
TWF sponsors hummingbird banding.
Hunt takes flight Jan. 30-31.
TWF CEO Mike Butler attended Warner
TNSCTP athletes will take part in
Nature Center’s annual hummingbird
the 7th annual hunt, the largest
banding event Sept. 9. TWF has been a
event of its kind in the U.S.
sponsor of the event for several years.
WINTER WINTER 2014 2014l lwww.tnwf.org www.tnwf.orgl l2525
WILD GAME RECIPE
Venison roast with dry rub
Deer meat, or venison, is one of our most readily available food sources and we are all the luckier for it. Given just a little bit of attention and seasoning, venison loses any gaminess and becomes an incredibly healthy and flat-out delicious cut of meat. It’s a healthier choice than beef, as well. OutdoorLife.com says three ounces of venison contain 134 calories and only 3 grams of total fat compared to 247 and 15 respectively in the same amount of beef. This roast recipe from food blogger Meredith Steele is protein.
This amazing venison roast with dry rub recipe and photograph was provided by food blogger Meredith Steele (www.insockmonkeyslippers.com). Venison contains fewer calories and fat than beef.
What you need
the oven, try a large skillet and transfer to a oven-
a straightforward but flavorful take on our favorite
• 2 Tbs chili powder • 1 1/2 Tbs brown sugar • 1 Tbs garlic powder • 1 Tbs onion powder • 1/2 Tbs cayenne • 1/2 Tbs paprika • 1 tsp kosher salt • venison roast (A 5.5-pound hind quarter or similar.) • 1 Tbs olive oil • 1 cup beef stock • 1 cup of dry red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Merlot, or Cotes Du Rohne)
safe roasting pan.) Once the pan is hot, place the roast in the pan. Sear each side for two to three minutes until they’ve formed a dark brown crust. Due to the sugar in the rub, this will happen fast. If using a skillet, remove the roast and place in an oven-safe dish or roasting pan. Add wine and beef stock. Cover with foil or if using a roasting pot, cover with the lid. Place the roast in the oven. After 30 minutes, reduce the oven temperature to 300° and continue roasting for three to four hours or until the meat is separating from the bone and is tender. Cooking times will vary depending on the size of the roast.
Directions First, let the venison sit in room temperature for an hour. Preheat the oven to 350°. For the spice rub: In a bowl mix the first seven ingredients until blended. Cover and pat the rub onto the entire surface of the roast. In a very large skillet or large roasting pot, heat the
Remove and set on carving board to rest for 10 minutes. While the roast is resting, place the remaining cooking liquid in a sauce pan and simmer over medium heat until it has reduced by half. Serve over meat. Carve and serve. This goes very well with rosemary mashed potatoes. Basically, use your regular mashed
oil over medium – high heat. (Note: If you don’t have
potatoes recipe with two tablespoons of chopped
a roasting pan large enough to use on the stove and in
fresh rosemary.
Tennessee Tennessee Out-Of-Doors Out-Of-Doors
N E W T W F S TA F F TWF’s staff continues to grow with the hiring of three new employees since August — Kate Hill, Angela Schmidt, and Janet Henderson. Hill, TWF’s new Communications Coordinator, is a native of Jackson, Tenn., and graduated in 2013 from Mississippi State University with a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design. Prior to TWF, Hill worked as an intern for the iconic Hatch Show Print shop in Nashville, where she currently resides. Her primary responsibilities at TWF are print and web design and general communications. Schmidt was hired as Development Coordinator.
New staff members are, left to right, Communications Coordinator Kate Hill, Development Coordinator Angela Schmidt, and Director of Finance, Janet Henderson.
She comes to the Federation after nearly 10 years as chief financial officer of The Land Trust of Tennessee.
A native of Hermitage, she previously worked as a
Prior to that position, Henderson served in the same
major donor associate at the New York office of
post for Emerald Entertainment Group, the largest
Oceana, an international conservation group based in
recording and broadcast company in the Southeast
Washington D.C. She now lives in Nashville.
U.S. She earned a degree in accounting from the
In her new role with TWF, Schmidt’s primary
University of Missouri and has written accounting
responsibilities include annual giving, special events,
software that has been used by seven states and the
grant research, and gift acknowledgements.
federal government. Henderson lives in Nashville
Henderson is TWF’s new Director of Finance.
with her husband, Mike, a musician.
Memorials and Honorariums
To make a gift in memory or honor of an individual, visit www.tnwf.org/donate.
In Memory of Mr. John (Jay) Burke III
Mr. and Mrs. Tod and Linda Hirsch of Brentwood
Ms. Judy Moore of Nashville
Ms. Veronique Sawyer of Brentwood
Mr. George Siemens of Louisville, KY
Mr. Nick Ricke and Family of Nolensville
Ms. Norma Jean Suiter of Nashville
Mr. and Mrs. Dale and Janice Williams of Franklin
Mr. John Sweeney of Brentwood
Christian Faith and Life Sunday School Class of
Woodhaven on the Lake Homeowner’s Association of
Antioch
Gallatin
Ms. Stephanie Everett of Brentwood Mr. Garry C. Collins of Franklin
In Memory of Mr. Neely Coble, Jr.
Mr. Michael Humnicky of Murfreesboro
Mr. Lee Steinhouse of Nashville
Ms. Dorothy McReynolds of Dothan, AL Mr. and Mrs. Mitch and Lyn Hixon of Brentwood
In Memory of Mr. Payne Shanafelt
Mr. and Mrs. Mark and Connie Bond of Franklin
BNSF Logistics of Flower Mound, TX
Mr. and Mrs. R. Martin and Julia McGirt of Franklin
Mr. Jimmy White of Brentwood Mr. Doug Morris of Brentwood
In Honor of Peter Schutt
Mr. James Ramia of Leeds, AL
Mr. and Mrs. John and Mary Leslie Olson of
Kathy, Megan and James Morris of Brentwood
Tallahassee, FL
Ms. Dana Osbarn of Oxford, MS
The Little Garden Club of Memphis
Mr. Robert McCain of Brentwood WINTER 2014 l www.tnwf.org l 27
Tennessee Wildlife Federation 300 Orlando Ave., Suite 200 Nashville, TN 37209