Gala event hosted by MeatEater’s Steven Rinella brought together D.C. luminaries, outdoor industry leaders, and TRCP supporters.
(Washington D.C.)— At its 18th annual Capital Conservation Awards Dinner, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership honored a Republican congressman, a Democratic congressman, and a technology company – united by a shared commitment to conservation. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.), Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), and Eric Siegfried and Laura Orvidas of onX were recognized for conservation achievements that reflect the breadth and durability of TRCP’s mission to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.
The gala event was hosted by Steven Rinella, founder of MeatEater and TRCP board member, at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The evening brought together more than 500 conservation advocates, policymakers, and outdoor industry leaders for TRCP’s marquee annual event.
The evening also featured remarks from special guest Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who spoke on the importance of hunters and anglers to conservation, Theodore Roosevelt’s enduring legacy, and the recently re-established Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council and Make America Beautiful Again commission.
“We are thrilled to be presenting our 2026 awards to four leaders who, in the spirit of Theodore Roosevelt, strive valiantly in the worthy cause of conservation,” said Matt Cook, TRCP CEO and board chair. “Representatives Thompson and Vasquez are exactly the kind of leaders this work depends on. They have been instrumental in clinching legislative victories for habitat, access, and conservation funding that will impact hunting and fishing opportunities for years to come. And we’re honored to celebrate the contributions of Eric Siegfried and Laura Orvidas at onX, whose work has fundamentally changed how hunters and anglers engage with public lands.”
Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.)
Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania has been a consistent and effective voice for hunters and anglers who depend on healthy working lands. As Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, his commitment to conservation programs within the Farm Bill - and his willingness to work across the aisle to advance them - reflects exactly the kind of durable, results-oriented leadership that moves the needle for hunters and anglers. And under his leadership, the Conservation and Forestry Titles have been a priority, not an afterthought – including fighting to secure one of, if not, the largest increases in funding for the Conservation Title in history He is also a leader in combating the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, as he fought to get the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act signed into law, and was instrumental in the inclusion of the Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act in the House Farm Bill.
Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.)
Representative Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico represents a district defined by some of the West’s most storied hunting and fishing country and he has championed policies that protect public land access, wildlife corridors, and the sporting traditions that bring communities together. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, he works to build conservation solutions on private land that benefit wildlife and support farmers and ranchers. His work goes further though, as he has emerged as a leading champion for public lands conservation and access. He introduced the bipartisan Public Lands in Public Hands Act, Habitat Connectivity on Working Lands Act, and co-founded the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus.
Eric Siegfried and Laura Orvidas, onX
Eric Siegfried, founder of onX, helped catalyze groundbreaking work with TRCP to identify 16.43 million acres of landlocked public lands across 22 states – an effort that helped drive full, permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, elevate public access in federal land policy, and inspire landmark legislation like the MAPLand Act.
As CEO, Laura Orvidas has built on that foundation by advancing passage of the MAPLand and MAPWaters Acts, championing walk-in access programs including the Farm Bill’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, and mobilizing the onX community to defend and expand access to public lands. Together, Siegfried, Orvidas, and the team at onX, represent what is possible when innovation and a deep commitment to the hunting and fishing community come together in service of conservation.
Now in its 18th year, the Capital Conservation Awards Dinner has become one of Washington’s premier gatherings at the intersection of conservation, policy, and the American sporting tradition. TRCP looks forward to continuing that work alongside its partners and supporters in the year ahead.
The 18th annual Capital Conservation Awards Dinner was made possible with the support of the following generous sponsors:
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