A MESSAGE FROM THE GM

■ William Cousins~VP/GM Whitetail Institute

Rest In Peace RAY SCOTT

The Whitetail Institute will mark its 35-year anniversary in 2023; the same anniversary as the food plot and deer nutrition industries. All share the same origin: They were born from one revolutionary idea of Ray Scott that food plot plantings could be scientifically designed for white-tailed deer.

After a long and fulfilling life of 88 years, Ray passed away peacefully on May 8th. I was fortunate to be the first person on board with Whitetail Institute to mentor under him.

The wider world will remember Ray’s enormous contributions to the sporting and conservation world in founding the Bass Angler’s Sportsman’s Society and for the many accolades and awards he received during his life for conservation and stewardship. We who are so fortunate to have known and worked with Ray at Whitetail Institute of North America will always be deeply grateful for the opportunities we had to walk with him in his achievements as a pioneer and trailblazer in the food plot industry as he brought his vision to reality.

With the introduction of Whitetail Institute in 1988, Ray brought to fruition his idea that the science of breeding plant varieties for specific purposes, which had been used for many years in wider agriculture, could be applied to create new plant varieties used in food plots for deer. Ray also instilled in all of us at Whitetail Institute his business approach, which focused entirely on product quality and customer service. Whitetail Institute is committed to continuing that philosophy.

Ray was a pioneer, visionary, outdoorsman, legend and land steward. He will be missed by many and left an undeniable legacy on this earth. We know he is fishing the best lakes and hunting over the prettiest green clover fields in heaven. Rest in peace to our founder, and my friend Ray Scott.

— William