Volunteers are the lifeblood of the NWTF's Waterways for Wildlife Initiative.

From building local partnerships and securing funds to helping advance conservation projects on the ground, their dedication to restoring vital riparian areas in the Great Plains is leaving the land better for wild turkeys and the overall ecosystem.

Launched in 2022, the 10-year Waterways for Wildlife Initiative aims to improve the health and vigor of riparian areas on at least 75,000 acres. This ambitious plan will enhance 1,500 linear miles of rivers and streams in the American Great Plains, stretching from North Dakota to South Texas.

For the NWTF’s 2026 Conservation Week, we are putting a spotlight on a few outstanding individuals who go above and beyond to move the effort forward.

Dillon Taylor, Texas - Dillon Taylor's journey with the NWTF began in 2021, but his passion for wild turkeys stretches back much further. Raised near Tulsa, Oklahoma, Taylor harvested his first turkey with his father in 2002, an experience that "lit a fire" in him and sparked a lifelong obsession with the bird.

Jennifer Barrow, Texas - Barrow has spent nearly three decades blending her passion for wildlife conservation, education and wild turkey management through both her career with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and her volunteer service with the NWTF.

Lee Zimmerman, Texas - For Zimmerman, volunteering with the NWTF is about far more than hosting successful banquets. It's about building a stronger future for conservation, supporting youth programs and creating sustainable ways to grow the organization's impact.

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America's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026—also known as the Semiquincentennial—is being marked through federal, state, local, and private celebrations across the United States. While many official events are planned, individual citizens can participate in ways that reflect their own interests, communities, and traditions.

Here are some of the primary ways you can celebrate:

Attend local Independence Day events

Most communities are expected to hold expanded Independence Day celebrations in honor of the 250th anniversary, such as:

• Parades

• Fireworks displays

• Community festivals

• Concerts

• Historic reenactments

• Food festivals

• Veterans' ceremonies

• Public readings of the Declaration of Independence

Many towns are incorporating the 250th anniversary into their annual July 4 traditions.

Visit historic sites

Many of you may choose to visit places connected to the nation's founding and history, including:

• Independence National Historical Park

• Liberty Bell

• Independence Hall

• National Mall

• Mount Vernon

• Colonial Williamsburg

Many museums and historic sites have planned special exhibits and educational programming for the anniversary year.

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March 14, 2026 – Victoria, Texas. The rhythmic clatter of shuffling cards and the high-energy cheers of a winning hand filled the air this weekend, but the real “jackpot” had nothing to do with the house.

The Golden Crescent Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) hosted its signature

Vegas Comes to Victoria, transforming the Victoria Community Center into a neon-lit fundraising powerhouse dedicated to the future of Texas wildlife.

“We wanted to do something that was fun, exciting, and to just do something different,”

Lee Zimmerman, Treasurer and Banquet Chairman for the Golden Crescent NTWF chapter. “We have a banquet every year in August, and we’re just trying to give everybody a great night of entertainment.”

While the atmosphere was pure Las Vegas, the mission was 100% Texas. Proceeds from the evening go directly toward the NWTF’s core pillars: protecting wild turkey populations, preserving Texan’s hunting heritage, and building for the future generations.

For the Golden Crescent Chapter, “Vegas Night” is the engine that drives year-round conservation efforts.

The funds raised allow the chapter to tackle the complex challenges facing wild turkeys in the Coastal Bend – from habitat loss to overharvesting.

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Our own Chapter was featured in Turkey Call, the National Wild Turkey Federation’s magazine designed to keep turkey hunting enthusiasts from all over the country informed.

The purpose of the article is to share our experiences engaging with the community to successfully establish new local chapters and host successful events that optimize membership growth and fundraising for NWTF here in Texas.

“The direction and content of the article are somewhat different from most of the content in Turkey Call, as it focuses on volunteer activities rather than on harvesting and conservation. I believe it can inspire volunteers to start new local chapters once they've read it and understand how to successfully start a new chapter. In my opinion, Turkey Call is the ideal communications vehicle to share this worthwhile subject,” says Matt Olsen, President of the Golden Crescent of Texas Chapter in Victoria.

We believe local volunteers are NWTF's most valuable asset, and if we can motivate them to start chapters and host events, we can grow our membership across the country. Increased membership, in turn, gives NWTF greater brand leverage in the marketplace.

Read the full article here.

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Our Chapter received recognition for our efforts in 2023 at the NWTF Texas State Chapter Volunteer Appreciation and Casino Night held at the Stein Room in Houston on January 27, 2024. Many thanks to all who came out and attended the festivities and all of you in the Golden Crescent who supported us throughout the year. We couldn’t have done it without you. We’re excited about keeping the National Wild Turkey Federation mission alive and well in our area throughout 2024!

Awards were given to the following Chapters for their achievements:

• Best New Chapter of the Year

• Top Golden Gobbler - 7th Place

• Outstanding Outreach

• 50K Club

• Most Memberships - 3rd Place

• Rising Star - Matt Olsen

• South Texas Volunteer of the Year- Lee Zimmerman

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We can take care of you whether you’re planting in the spring or fall. Just ask us about our Conservation Seed Program. We’re making low-cost seed available to private landowners and public land managers for wildlife plantings. When planted properly, the seed will be utilized by a variety of wildlife. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, northern bobwhite, mourning dove, waterfowl and many species of songbirds will benefit from plantings.

We’re already working with a few local ranches and outfitters to help them get a great deal on planting seed to sow.

Currently, we can get milo, corn, soybeans, winter wheat seed through the 2023 Wildlife Habitat Seed Program. All seed has been treated and has excellent germination rates

We’re also working to offer other seed options as well. Just let us know what you’d like to plant

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INVISTA Victoria hosted a community celebration on November 4, 2023 to commemorate 25 years of INVISTA’s wetland project, which has been an ongoing demonstration of the site’s commitment to environmental stewardship and dedication to the community.

Event attendees participated in hands-on educational activities and tours of the wetland led by John Snyder, the Victoria Independent School District (VISD) environmental science specialist who’s been teaching environmental science at the wetland education center since 1998 through INVISTA’s longstanding partnership with VISD.

Five youth - and their guardian or parent – participated in the event. They were chosen by applications through Texas Wildlife Association’s Texas Youth Hunting Program and the City of Victoria.

Hunting conducted on Southern Jewel Cattle Company - which was purchased by the Port Authority - Navigation District of Victoria.

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We will be awarding Madyson $2500 to be paid to her school of choice.

Madyson have been a member of the Calhoun FFA where she served as the Vice president for the last two years. She is currently serving as the Gulf Coast District FFA Vice President.

Madyson has been a part of the Calhoun High School National Honor Society for two years, and the Horticulture Club where she served as President for the last four years.

She also competed in UIL Academics.

Madyson has been involved in 4-H for the past ten years and has held every officer position at both the club and county level. She is President of All Around 4-H Club and Vice President of Calhoun County 4-H Council for this year.

Through 4-H, Madyson also served as a Livestock Ambassador for the State of Texas and was a 2022 National 4-H Congress Delegate.

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We had a lot of fun at the Victoria Livestock Show this year.

Lee, VP Banquet Chairman drew the 4 winners for our raffles we had in the booth. Congrats Donna S. for winning the farmstead bench. Congrats to Jerydiah B for winning the CZ-USA 1012. Congrats to Robert A. for winning the Vortex Optics binoculars. Congrats to Tommy B, for winning the Vortex rangefinder. Also thanks to Victoria Livestock Show for having us, Victoria All Sports for handing the CZ, and all that stopped by supported our mission and bought raffles tickets, thanks!

Congrats to our Whitley on winning the title of Duchess at Victoria Livestock Show. We are proud to support the youth in our community!

Thanks to all of you that came by to visit, that signed up their kids for our Free Jakes Memberships, which enables them to enter our "Shutter Strutters" Jakes Photo Contest and to those that supported us by buying raffle tickets.

To get more information and to enter the contest go to https://www.gcnwtf.org/nwtfgc-photo-contest

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Partnership Achievement Awards were presented to local and state NWTF chapters that collaborated with individuals, companies, agencies or nongovernmental organizations to host hunting heritage events, including JAKES, Wheelin’ Sportsmen or Women in the Outdoors events.

Texas Chapters - Kaufman Co. Double Beards, Cross Timbers and Cottonwood Creek Chapters

This was the fourth year the local NWTF chapters have been able to host a hunt for physically disabled children between the ages of 13-18. The hunt is held on a 2,400-acre area managed by the Army Corp of Engineers, which is only open to for hunts like this. With two morning hunts and two evening hunts, participants are allowed plenty of chances to see and harvest deer, and the hunt has become a heartwarming and life-changing event.

Partners included the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Hunt for Cure and Army Corp of Engineers.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The NWTF Houston Chapter accepted the Best Inaugural Event Award during the NWTF’s 50th anniversary celebration at its 47th annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak.

The Houston Chapter received the award for their inaugural JAKES Day, which saw over 150 attendees. Like all NWTF JAKES events, the day of fun was designed to get youth excited and interested in the outdoors by offering educational classes, range time, reptile handling and the proper way to field dress a deer, among other engaging activities.

A variety of partners collaborated with the chapter to make the event a success. The Texas Wildlife and Parks Department provided hunter, angler and archery educational classes. The Texas Youth Hunting Program provided a deer field dressing demonstration, and Texas Snakes and More provided a reptile education seminar.

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Let’s give a big ole’ Texas welcome to Nashville’s Jordan Rowe, Whitney Duncan and Jenna LaMaster as they visit our great State to harvest birds and share a little music along the way.

“Featuring Texas in this film series means a lot to all our local chapters, volunteers and members right across the State,” says Tony Hawley, NWTF Texas State Chapter President. “It’ll go a long way in helping us get more people involved in the NWTF mission and the hunting experience here.”

Country music, Rio Grande turkeys, first-time turkey hunters and new hunting adventures are the heart of the upcoming “Gobblers and Guitars: Texas Edition” digital video series from the National Wild Turkey Federation, Winchester Repeating Arms, Shine United and HuntStand.

Set to kick off the week of July 3, the three-part series will follow Nashville singer and songwriters Jordan Rowe, Whitney Duncan and Jenna LaMaster as they hit Mason, Texas, to chase Hill Country turkeys and share in the camaraderie of the outdoors.

The avenue into the outdoor lifestyle is never a set path, and the same holds true for the musicians featured in “Gobblers and Guitars.”

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National Wild Turkey Federation member and wildlife journalist Chester Moore was honored by the Press Club of Southeast Texas for journalistic work on wild turkeys and wild sheep conservation at their Excellence In Media Awards.

His article “Conservation In Action: Angelina County Eastern Turkey Release” took first place for environmental writing.

Moore has photographed and written on the Eastern turkey releases at that site since they began in early 2021.

“It’s such an honor to be recognized for that story as what I have seen Texas Parks & Wildlife, NWTF and the Middle Neches Eastern Turkey Cooperative do in Angelina County has been amazing. It’s true environmental stewardship,” Moore said.

His “Wild Sheep Pandemic” public service announcement took first place in the Public Service Announcement category and was written, narrated and edited by Moore to raise awareness to the issue of pathogen/disease transmission between domestic and wild sheep.

His radio program “Moore Outdoors” on Newstalk AM 560 KLVI, took first place for radio talk show for an episode he did on Texas’ desert bighorns with Froylan Hernandez, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Desert Bighorn Sheep Program leader.

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Dr. Samuel Prescott McManus was born on March 16, 1933, in Gulfport, Mississippi, to parents Sidney and Dixie.

He and his older brother, Hugh, spent many days fishing on the coast and exploring the woods together every chance they could.

Sam played sports in High School, was as smart as a whip and the President of his class. He was active in the U.S. Naval Reserve and then attended Ole Miss, where he met and married his soulmate and the love of his life, Lee.

Sam was passionate about the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), tirelessly giving his time and talents to the organization at the local and state level for over 50 years. What was important to Sam was sharing the experience with others, spending time in the woods and promoting the stewardship of the land. In his early days you had to be quick to outdraw him on a gobbler, but in later years he gracefully made sure to put his hunting partners in the best position for the shot.

Forever the optimist, he was always convinced that another gobbler was just over that next ridge.

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We will be awarding Jaci $2500 to be paid to her school of choice.

Jaci is a worthy recipient of the Dr. James Earl Kennamer Scholarship because of her involvement in her community, her extra curricular activities, maintaining a high GPA and class rank and still be able to hunt and preserve our hunting heritage.

Jaci started hunting at the age of six. Whether it was deer, turkey, or even an oryx she was always ready to go hunt. Being raised in an environment where her family hunted, she learned very many lessons and understood how important the outdoor and hunting are.

Every year she looked forward to attending the Cross Timbers Chapter banquet because it was her dream to win a gun. One year, she recalls, she bid on a pink .22 Crickett against other kids and was lucky to snag it even after raising her hand a few more times than her parents may have wanted her to.

Jaci is thankful for the opportunities that she has been given to get outdoors and hunt because she has been able to learn, grow, and share memories with her family. Eventually, she would like her kids to have those same opportunities she did as a child.

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NWTF Texas Chapters were back in Nashville, February 16-20, 2022, for the 46th Annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show at the beautiful Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center for a weekend packed with the latest hunting gear, live and silent auctions, entertainment and much more.

NWTF Chapters in Texas received national recognition for their hard work. Awards were given to the following Chapters for their achievements:

• LA Dixon Outstanding Chapter, 2,500-4,999 Members - 3rd Place - Montgomery County Chapter, Conroe

• LA Dixon Royal Slam Club - Pineywoods Chapter, Lufkin

• LA Dixon Grand Slam Club - April Awol Chapter, Nacogdoches

• LA Dixon Grand Slam Club - Highland Lakes Chapter, Burnet

• NWTF Partnership Award - Kauffman County Double Beards Chapter, Terrell | Cross Timbers Chapter, Decatur | Cottonwood Creek Chapter, McKinney

Click the link below for the Convention recap:

https://www.nwtf.org/convention/recap

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A cutting-edge study to examine the lives of Eastern wild turkeys has crossed the Sabine River from Louisiana into East Texas.

Louisiana State University (LSU) researchers with the cooperation of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) and help from the National Wild Turkey Federation are fitting Eastern turkeys with GPS collars to track their movements.

TF&G Editor-In-Chief Chester Moore got to document the first collaring in Texas with Chad Argabright, a graduate student at LSU overseeing the project in the field alongside TPWD biologists.

LSU graduate student Chad Argabright fits an Eastern turkey captured north of Lufkin with a GPS transmitter. (Photo by Chester Moore)

In this edition of Higher Calling Wildlife, Chester interviews LSU’s Dr. Bret Collier who has studied the birds in Louisiana for a decade.

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A great time was had by all who attended the 2021 NWTF TX Awards Night and Volunteer Appreciation Banquet, held at the Lufkin Civic Center on January 15, 2022.

Thanks for coming out to show your support for the National Wild Turkey Federation in Texas and all the good work this organization does across the country in promoting responsible hunting and championing the conservation of our nation’s precious natural resources.

Our banquet would not be a success without the support of our members, sponsorship partners and donors.

Thank you for helping us and the NWTF save the habitat and save the hunt in Texas for generations to come.

We appreciate you!

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