Washington D.C. (September 29, 2025)- The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (Association) recognized eleven individuals, one group, one state agency, and one private landowner and operations manager for their dedication to advancing fish and wildlife conservation at the Association’s Annual Awards Ceremony on September 23, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona.
SETH GORDON AWARD
The Seth Gordon Award recognizes the lifetime achievements of natural resource administrators who have worked steadfastly and effectively for the best use of North American fish and wildlife resources in support of the Association’s mission and the public trust. This year’s winner of the Seth Gordon Award is Chuck Sykes, Executive Director of the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports. Sykes is an exceptional national leader, having served as President of the Association and on its Executive Committee. He has also held leadership roles with the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the International Hunter Education Association, and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study.
JOHN L. MORRIS AWARD
The John L. Morris Award recognizes lifetime commitment to fish and wildlife stewardship by citizen conservationists who have exhibited exemplary leadership and commitment to large scale natural resource challenges. Richard Childress, President and CEO of Richard Childress Racing, is this year’s winner of the John L. Morris Award. Childress has served as chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, he is a regular member of the Boone and Crockett Club, as well as Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and the National Rifle Association. Childress also served on the 2015-16 National Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources convened by the Association.
AFWA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The AFWA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have served and/or supported the Association and helped advance of Association’s policy agenda. This year, we recognize two individuals.
The first recipient is Bob Ziehmer, Senior Director of Conservation at Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s, in recognition of his remarkable career in this profession including his long-standing national contributions to conservation, outdoor recreation, the mission of state, provincial and territorial fish and wildlife agencies, and the work of the Association. The second individual is Gordon Batcheller, Executive Secretary of the Northeast Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, for his strategic leadership that has empowered numerous organizations to work together towards common goals, fostering a spirit of cooperation in the Northeast that has resulted in several conservation success stories.
STEPHEN KELLERT AWARD
The Stephen Kellert Award recognizes a distinguished individual or group effort for outstanding service in advancing connections between humans and the natural world to all segments of society. This year’s recipient is Tony Wasley, President of the Wildlife Management Institute. Tony embodies the values of collaboration, public service, and connection
to nature as an avenue to human wellness that defines Dr. Kellert’s legacy.
PRIVATE LANDS FISH & WILDLIFE STEWARDSHIP AWARD
The Private Lands Fish & Wildlife Stewardship Award honors an individual or family-run farm, ranch, or forest property that has incorporated proactive conservation practices of importance to fish and wildlife. This year, the Association recognizes Gail Steiger (Operations Manager), Tom Polk (Owner) and the Spider Ranch for their proactive conservation and environmental practices and exhibiting outstanding stewardship of fish and wildlife resources on a ranch spanning 51,000- acre in Prescott Arizona.
BOONE & CROCKETT CLUB AWARD
This Award is sponsored by the Boone and Crockett Club and awarded to a state, territorial or provincial agency for outstanding achievement in promoting and encouraging outdoor ethics. A companion award is given to the individual who has been the prime mover in the recognized program. This year, the Association recognizes team leader Rachael Tuckett and the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources for the department’s outstanding achievement in promoting and encouraging outdoor ethics through the Hunting for Sustainability program, an initiative that stands as a model of modern conservation education.
CONSERVATION LAW ENFORCEMENT AWARD
The Conservation Law Enforcement Award recognizes exceptional achievement in fish and wildlife resource enforcement. This year the award goes to the Gene Elms, Law Enforcement Chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Gene exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding wildlife conservation law enforcement professional. Through his leadership, dedication, innovation and professionalism, Gene has made significant contributions to protecting natural resources. His commitment to excellence, ability to form relationships, and leading proactive operations has strengthened the Department’s conservation law enforcement effectiveness.
MARK J. REEFF AWARD
The Mark J. Reeff Award recognizes a distinguished early career professional with great potential to rise through the ranks of their agency into a more senior leadership role.
This year’s recipient, Jackie Rosenberger, Elk Project Leader with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, is growing the Virginia elk program with passion, dedication, and persistence. Jackie has exceptional problem-solving skills and abilities, embraces a team approach, and makes each team member feel they are a vitally important part of the delivery of elk management. Jackie’s approach provides enormous benefits to the resource, the Agency and its constituents.
GARY TAYLOR AWARD
The Gary Taylor Award recognizes an individual for outstanding achievement in the field of public conservation policy, specifically related to state fish and wildlife agency jurisdiction over fish and wildlife management. This year, the Association recognizes Taylor Schmitz, Senior Vice President at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, as the recipient of that award. Taylor Schmitz has demonstrated time and again his commitment to advocating for and supporting the important mission of state fish and wildlife agencies.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARDS
Special Recognition Awards are given to an individual or group of individuals who have a distinguished record of accomplishment within the conservation community and in the advancement of the Association’s work. This year, the Association is recognizing and awarding two recipients.
The first recipient is Colin Gillin, Oregon’s State Wildlife Veterinarian, who has not only led critical wildlife health efforts in Oregon but also played a defining role in shaping national initiatives through the Association, consistently elevating the field of fish and wildlife health. The second recipient is the Federal Aid Coordinators Working Group. The Working Group is a team of dedicated, proactive problem-solvers that spent countless hours in the past year addressing several significant issues within the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration programs, all of which had the potential to affect every state fish and wildlife agency.
The Association would like to pay tribute to the wildlife professionals, Fallen Heroes, who have lost their lives while carrying out their duties to enforce conservation laws and regulations and manage fish and wildlife resources within the
past year. This year, remember the work of Game Warden William “Tex” Bailey with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.
The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.
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