EDGEFIELD, S.C. — To kick off Pennsylvania’s youth turkey season, over 140 young hunters attended the 4th annual Nancy’s Vision Youth Turkey Hunt to raise money for the Catch-A-Dream Foundation, which provides outdoor experiences for children battling life-threatening illnesses. This year’s youth hunt featured an NWTF Field to Fork event, engaging young attendees in the process beyond just the harvest.
Nancy’s Vision is named in honor of Nancy Rucker Wallis, a pediatric nurse who had always been particularly compassionate toward kids in need. When she passed away in 2020, her husband, Jeff Wallis, and her son, Hunter Wallis, wanted to do something to keep her memory alive. They decided to host a turkey hunting contest and raise money in her memory.
“I think this event is important in a couple of ways,” said Jeff Wallis, founder of the event. “It raises money in Nancy’s memory to help kids that are less fortunate, but it also gets kids outdoors with their families who may never have been out there before. And that’s the vision; that’s Nancy’s vision. Hunter and I are so pleased that these kids are getting out there to help kids in need and inspiring them to help kids who may need it.”
Young hunters registered to attend the event, which provided them with lunch, a gift bag with a free hat, T-shirt, spur rulers, turkey calls, a free NWTF JAKES membership and the opportunity to score their birds using the NWTF scoring system.
Several of the kids harvested their first bird this year and will receive a Pennsylvania State First Bird Award.
Young attendees also had the opportunity to watch Anthony Carito, a member of the NWTF Northern Counties Full Fan Chapter, dress and prepare a wild turkey at the NWTF Field to Fork presentation. Carito shared his recipes and did a step-by-step demonstration of how to breast a wild turkey and prepare it in a crockpot. For kids who are turkey hunting for the first time, seeing how to prepare a bird was a unique and beneficial opportunity, showing them that the hunt doesn’t end in the field, but continues through shared meals and tradition.
“Some of these kids had never seen a turkey prepared before,” said Jeff Wallis. “Seeing this beautiful demonstration from one of our committee members is something they’ll carry with them.”
The event also hosted educational programs for both kids and adults. The Pennsylvania Game Commission presented on the status of the wild turkey population in the state, as well as about how wild turkeys are banded, how a rocket is used and other wild turkey management techniques.
Hunter Wallis, an experienced turkey caller and NWTF Grand National Calling Competition veteran, hosted a calling seminar where he shared both technical tips and stories from the woods. For many attendees, it was a rare chance to learn directly from an exceptional caller.
The event offered participants a sense of community. Parents, mentors, NWTF chapter volunteers and conservation officers all came together to create a welcoming space where stories, skills and traditions were shared.
“We are grateful for all of the help and collaboration we received from our local NWTF chapters,” said Jeff Wallis. “Volunteers from the Lake Region Longbeards, the Northern Counties Full Fan, the Red Rock Locals and the Spruce Run Chapter of New Jersey, among others, donated their time, prizes and funds for this event.”
Funds raised through the event support Catch-A-Dream. But the event also allocated funds to fund a nursing scholarship, and last year, Nancy’s Vision donated money to a local youth with health implications, 50 turkeys during thanksgiving to local families who needed help and donated to a local fishing derby, giving the money back to local community members.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.
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