RICE LAKE, Wis., March 4, 2025 — Henry Repeating Arms Founder and CEO Anthony Imperato recently honored Ralf Hartmann as the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) New York State Instructor of the Year, recognizing his exceptional contributions to hunter education and firearms safety. In recognition of his achievement, Imperato presented Hartmann with a custom serial-numbered Henry Side Gate Lever Action Rifle chambered in .360 Buckhammer.
The IHEA State Instructor of the Year award is given to educators in each state who go above and beyond in their efforts to instill safe hunting and firearms handling practices in new hunters. Nominated by Kelly Stang, wildlife biologist and New York State Hunter Education Program Administrator, Hartmann was selected for his dedication to the field over the past 11 years, during which he has introduced over 1,000 students to hunting and the outdoors.
Fluent in German, Hartmann has been instrumental in expanding hunter education accessibility to Amish and Mennonite students. His language skills have allowed him to teach courses tailored to these communities, and he has worked diligently to recruit, train, and supervise Amish and Mennonite instructors, the first of whom were certified in 2024.
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Hartmann credits his father for first introducing him to hunting and firearms safety. His early training included carrying an unloaded firearm in the field for a year before being allowed to hunt. In 1975, he pursued a German Hunting License, a rigorous process that involved a six-month course covering animal husbandry, genetics, wildlife identification, firearms knowledge, German hunting traditions, and laws, culminating in a written exam and in-person board interview.
Upon receiving the award, Hartmann expressed his dream of hunting Red Stags or Chamois in Europe, a nod to his deep appreciation for international hunting traditions. In addition to celebrating Hartmann’s achievements, the Saranac Lake Fish & Game Club recognized Anthony Imperato, receiving a Certificate of Appreciation and Life Membership for his ongoing dedication to hunter education and conservation efforts.
Speaking on Hartmann’s impact, Imperato said, “Henry Repeating Arms has always recognized the unsung heroes of the firearms industry, the firearms instructors, who give up their own valuable free time and take money out of their own pockets to teach firearms safety, discipline, and the enjoyment of our shooting sports traditions to the youth and the first-timers of our great country. Congratulations to Ralf Hartmann, a most deserving NY State Instructor of the Year.”
Visit henryusa.com for more information about Henry Repeating Arms and its ongoing commitment to firearms safety and hunter education.
About Henry Repeating Arms:
Henry Repeating Arms is one of the leading rifle and shotgun manufacturers in the United States and a world leader in the lever action category. The company motto is “Made in America, or not made at all,” and its firearms come with a lifetime guarantee backed by award-winning customer service. The company is also known for its Guns For Great Causes charitable program, which focuses on assisting the families of sick children, children’s hospitals, military veteran organizations, Second Amendment advocacy groups, and wildlife conservation organizations. The company currently employs over 550 people and has over 330,000sf of manufacturing space in its Wisconsin and New Jersey facilities. The company is named in honor of Benjamin Tyler Henry, who invented and patented the Henry lever action rifle in 1860 – the first practical repeating rifle and America’s unique contribution to the international stage of firearms design. Visit Henry Repeating Arms online at henryusa.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/HenryRepeating, and @henry_rifles on Instagram.
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