Monthly Archives: March 2013

Thayne Smith, Claremore, OK wins KWF Conservation Communicator Award

Thayne Smith, center, from Claremore, OK, receives the 2012 Conservation Communicator award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President. Also present is Phil Taunton, left, representative of the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Habitat Federation, which sponsored the Conservation Communicator award.

The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) proudly announces winners of the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards (CAP). KWF honored thirteen recipients on February 23rd at a reception and banquet in their honor in Emporia.

For 49 years, the Federation has recognized Kansans who have devoted exceptional efforts for wildlife conservation in the state. Kansans, who wished to recognize the awardees for their contributions, supplied the nominations. 

The CAP awards are given in several categories including youth, land, water, wildlife, forest, education, farming and ranching. For 2012, 12 awards were given, along with the President’s special award for meritorious service to the KWF.

These are the most prestigious conservation-related awards given in Kansas and are patterned after similar awards in most other states through respective state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. Long-time professor of biology at Kansas StateUniversity, Robert Robel of Manhattan won the overall award, Conservationist of the Year. Dr. Robel passed away last month so his wife, Anise, accepted the award in his place.  

Award sponsors for these awards included Westar, Inc., Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Geary County Fish and Game Association, the Watershed Institute, the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney, Kansas Farmers Union and the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.

The 2012 Conservation Communicator Award was presented to Thayne Smith of Claremore, OK. Thayne was born in Healy,KS and went to school there until he was six. Because of the Dust Bowl, his father lost his job on the railroad and the family moved to Arkansas for six years. The family moved back to the Dighton area, where Thayne finished high school. Much of his love for the outdoors was established in western Kansas.

Thayne attended Wichita University majoring in journalism. His first job out of college was in advertizing for Acton Co., which made coolers in Arkansas City. This started Thayne on his road to the outdoors. His next three jobs all involved Kansasnewspapers, at the Newton Kansan, the Garden City Telegram and the Salina Journal as a newspaper writer-editor-photographer.

For five years Thayne served as the Public Relations Director with the Kansas Highway Commission (now the Kansas Department of Transportation). He followed that with three years of free-lance writing and editing Kansas outdoor magazines.

In 1966 George Moore, Director of the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission, convinced Thayne to go to Pratt to serve as his Chief of the Information and Education Section. During his 5-years there, Thayne was the first recipient of the Kansas Wildlife Federations’ Conservation Communicator’s Award in 1967.

Thayne went to work for the Coleman Company in Wichita as a Public Relations Director for five years before moving toVirginia to serve in a similar position for the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). A move to Oklahoma found him being a PR man for Zebco Co. and then Lowrance Electronics. He has been editing magazines, free-lance writing and outdoor photography since 1989.

During all this time Thayne was very active in professional writer’s organizations, regardless of where he lived. He served in various positions, including president, with the Outdoor Writers of Kansas (OWK). Thayne is the only surviving charter member of OWK, having met at Toronto Lake to form the organization in 1962. He still attends as many of the OWK meetings as possible, as recently as last November in Russell.

Thayne has served as president of the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA), the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) and the Great Rivers Outdoor Writers (GROW), a four-state association of Kansas, Missouri,Arkansas and Oklahoma. He is an Honorary Life Member of the Missouri Outdoor Communicators (MOC) and the Texas Outdoor Writers Association (TOWA).

Since 1950 Thayne has been an award-winning freelance writer-photographer and outdoor magazine editor. He has had more than 1,000 articles published in national magazines. Many of us remember reading Thayne’s articles in past years. His contribution to Kansas outdoors, firearm education and wildlife appreciation deserves recognition.

It was an honor for the Kansas Wildlife Federation to recognize Thayne Smith as the Conservation Communicator of the Year for 2012.

Randy Rodgers and Helen Hands, Hays, win KWF Land and Soil Wildlife Conservationist Award

Randy Rodgers and Helen Hands, from Hays, receive the 2012 Land and Soil Wildlife Conservationist award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President, right.

The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) proudly announces winners of the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards (CAP). KWF honored thirteen recipients on February 23rd at a reception and banquet in their honor in Emporia.

For 49 years, the Federation has recognized Kansans who have devoted exceptional efforts for wildlife conservation in the state. Kansans, who wished to recognize the awardees for their contributions, supplied the nominations. 

The CAP awards are given in several categories including youth, land, water, wildlife, forest, education, farming and ranching. For 2012, 12 awards were given, along with the President’s special award for meritorious service to the KWF.

These are the most prestigious conservation-related awards given in Kansas and are patterned after similar awards in most other states through respective state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. Long-time professor of biology at Kansas State University, Robert Robel of Manhattan won the overall award, Conservationist of the Year. Dr. Robel passed away last month so his wife, Anise, accepted the award in his place. 

Award sponsors for these awards included Westar, Inc., Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Geary County Fish and Game Association, the Watershed Institute, the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney, Kansas Farmers Union and the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.

The 2012 Land and Soil Wildlife Conservationist Award was presented to Randy Rodgers and Helen Hands of Hays. Randy provided years of valuable service to the sportsmen of Kansas as Upland Bird Research Biologist for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. He researched and developed options to improve habitat on private land in conjunction with crop production. Now retired, Randy is spending his time “practicing what he preached,” developing wildlife habitat on four tracts of Rush County land purchased by him and his wife Helen, also a former KDWPT biologist. They have developed state-of-the-art upland bird habitat on this land, while keeping much of it in crop production.

They used federal Farm Bill Program practices, mostly the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), to establish native grass and shrubs in strategic locations. The really cool thing is that these areas have been designed with farming ease in mind. Grassed terraces and other areas were designed to eliminate point rows and other hard-to-farm spots. The remaining crop fields were laid out in even sprayer or planter widths to prevent overlap. Although the aerial views of their properties look complicated, they are strikingly attractive and fields are easy to farm. It is no surprise that these areas are also a hunter’s paradise.

After a couple years, the plan proved successful. In a year of low pheasant numbers in the surrounding area, their land still had good numbers of birds. If you provide all necessary habitat components in close proximity, you will have birds. Of course, other species like rabbits and deer like it too.

Not walking away from their life’s work, Randy and Helen have demonstrated how to build ideal upland bird habitat on a productive farm. They have already been contacted by others wanting information about creating something similar.

One field has a low area that was developed into a wetland. When it has water, it provides a great place for shorebirds and waterfowl. 

Randy and Helen have put their philosophy into practice for many years and implemented sound management practices for crops and wildlife. They are very deserving of being recognized as the 2012 Land and Soil Wildlife Conservationists of the Year by the Kansas Wildlife Federation.

Robert Robel, Manhattan, wins KWF Conservationist of the Year Award

Robert Robel, from Manhattan, was awarded the 2012 Conservationist of the Year award. Dr. Robel passed away in late January so his wife, Anice, accepted the award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President. Also present is Steve Bender, left, National Wildlife Federation Regional Representative from Austin, TX.

The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) proudly announces winners of the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards (CAP). KWF honored thirteen recipients on February 23rd at a reception and banquet in their honor in Emporia.

For 49 years, the Federation has recognized Kansans who have devoted exceptional efforts for wildlife conservation in the state. Kansans, who wished to recognize the awardees for their contributions, supplied the nominations. 

The CAP awards are given in several categories including youth, land, water, wildlife, forest, education, farming and ranching. For 2012, 12 awards were given, along with the President’s special award for meritorious service to the KWF.

These are the most prestigious conservation-related awards given in Kansas and are patterned after similar awards in most other states through respective state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. Long-time professor of biology at Kansas State University, Robert Robel of Manhattan won the overall award, Conservationist of the Year. Dr. Robel passed away last month so his wife, Anise, accepted the award in his place. 

Award sponsors for these awards included Westar, Inc., Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Geary County Fish and Game Association, the Watershed Institute, the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney, Kansas Farmers Union and the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.

The 2012 Conservationist of the Year Award was presented to Robert J. Robel of Manhattan.          Robert was born in Lansing, Michigan. He was accepted into medical school at Michigan State University when he was a senior in high school. He switched from pre-medicine to wildlife ecology in his junior year because he didn’t want to be confined to an office if he became a doctor. While still an undergraduate he sought out advisors and had funding lined up at the University of Idaho and Utah State University for his master’s and doctoral degrees, respectively.

In 1961, he was hired as an assistant professor in Kansas State University‘s department of zoology, before the merger that created the Division of Biology. On a Fulbright Scholarship, he traveled to the United Kingdom in 1967 to study the Black Grouse. While in the United Kingdom he was asked to help with a long-term study of theRed Deer, a close cousin to the North American Elk. He developed a management plan to help increase Red Deernumbers by culling female deer that were not capable of producing healthy offspring.

An extensive amount of Dr. Robel’s research in Kansas has been devoted to upland game bird species, including Prairie-chickens and Northern Bobwhites. The research led to enhanced understanding of their behavior and habitat needs and provided management frameworks designed to maintain sustainable populations. In an effort to strengthen such research in Kansas, he helped establish the Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit on KSU’s campus.

As well as wildlife research, Dr. Robel was involved with the National Institute of Health regarding the effects of herbicide exposure and cancer. Dr. Robel served as a consultant and science advisor for several Kansasgovernors, energy companies and numerous committees and task forces. For the last several years, he was on a federal advisory committee for the Department of the Interior concerning wind power and wind farms.

Dr. Robel was a member of several professional societies and wildlife conservation organizations, including being a Life Member of The Wildlife Society, an Honorary Life Member of the Kansas Wildlife Federation, an Elective Member of the American Ornithologists Union, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

He was also very active with the Kansas State Rifle Association and created a tax-exempt foundation to raise funds to promote legal shooting activities among youth and women in Kansas. In addition, he was active with the National Rifle Association and served on the Board of Directors for 25 years. He was charged with the task of fundraising for the United States Olympic shooting team building at the Olympic Village in Colorado Springs, CO. He was a member of the United States Olympic Committee.

Dr. Robel’s career achievements have been remarkable and more, importantly, a positive factor for the quality of human and wildlife in the State of Kansas and beyond.  In recognition of his extensive accomplishments and contributions, the Kansas Wildlife Federation is proud to award the Conservationist of the Year for 2012 to Robert Robel.

Stephen Pletcher, Emporia, wins KWF Conservation Educator Award

Stephen Pletcher, left, from Emporia, receives the 2012 Conservation Educator award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President. Westar Energy, Inc., of Topeka, sponsored the Conservation Educator award.

The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) proudly announces winners of the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards (CAP). KWF honored thirteen recipients on February 23rd at a reception and banquet in their honor in Emporia.

For 49 years, the Federation has recognized Kansans who have devoted exceptional efforts for wildlife conservation in the state. Kansans, who wished to recognize the awardees for their contributions, supplied the nominations. 

The CAP awards are given in several categories including youth, land, water, wildlife, forest, education, farming and ranching. For 2012, 12 awards were given, along with the President’s special award for meritorious service to the KWF.

These are the most prestigious conservation-related awards given in Kansas and are patterned after similar awards in most other states through respective state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. Long-time professor of biology at Kansas State University, Robert Robel of Manhattan won the overall award, Conservationist of the Year. Dr. Robel passed away last month so his wife, Anise, accepted the award in his place. 

Award sponsors for these awards included Westar, Inc., Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Geary County Fish and Game Association, the Watershed Institute, the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney, Kansas Farmers Union and the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.

The 2012 Conservation Educator Award was presented to Stephen Pletcher of Emporia. Stephen has been a teacher in the Emporia school district since the fall of 1980. He has been the Physical Education teacher atRiverside since the fall of 2006.

Steve is an innovative teacher who creates many activities that teach the standards of Physical Education. Mr. Pletcher’s students are taught TREF skills, which stand for Think, Respect, Effort and Focus. His students begin a warm up activity as soon as they enter the gym and each student knows the routine and what is expected. On top of this, Steve spends a great deal of his own time outside of the school day working with students. After noticing that many of the students sit in the gym before school, he created a morning walking program for students. Students received awards for the mileage that they walked or ran. Student helpers kept track of the number of laps that students achieved.

During the 2009/2010 school year, Mr. Pletcher wrote multiple grants that enabled Riverside Elementary to have an exercise/walking trail built in their outdoor wildlife learning site (OWLS). He has spent many hours since improving and maintaining this trail. He organizes the staff, PTO and students in quarterly workdays on Saturday mornings to help maintain and improve the trail, outdoor classroom and planting, pruning and identifying plants and trees in the area. This is above and beyond his teaching assignment.

In the 2011-12 school year, Stephen became involved in the National Archery in the Schools Program, (NASP). After securing the funding and working with trainers, he coordinated efforts with the district maintenance crew to install a retractable net in the gymnasium. As a result of his efforts, students have the opportunity to develop their archery skills. This is the only elementary school in Emporia that provides this curriculum.

Mr. Pletcher also coordinates an extra activity with Riverside students in an annual jump rope challenge. This year, Steve will challenge his students to raise funds for the Salvation Army with this contest. As you can tell, Steve displays a great deal of energy and enthusiasm for his job. To his students he combines high expectations for learning and behavior with a sense of fun thrown in. In short, Steve connects with his students.

Perhaps Steve’s greatest strength is integrating reading and math in his Physical Education activities.  He is always listening to what students are learning during PLC time at each grade level. He will try to find a way to help teach that math or reading concept to his students during a Physical Education activity.

Westar Energy, Inc of Topeka sponsored the Conservation Educator of the Year award.

In conclusion, Mr. Pletcher is the type of teacher everyone would want for their child. This recognition of Stephen Pletcher as the 2012 Conservation Educator of the Year by the Kansas Wildlife Federation is well deserved.

Caleb Stotts, Fredonia, wins KWF Farmer/Rancher Wildlife Conservationist Award

Caleb Stotts, center, from Fredonia, receives the 2012 Farmer/Rancher Wildlife Conservationist award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President. Also shown is Nick Levendofsky, left, from the Kansas Farmers Union of McPherson, which sponsored the Farmer/Rancher Wildlife Conservationist award.

The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) proudly announces winners of the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards (CAP). KWF honored thirteen recipients on February 23rd at a reception and banquet in their honor in Emporia.

For 49 years, the Federation has recognized Kansans who have devoted exceptional efforts for wildlife conservation in the state. Kansans, who wished to recognize the awardees for their contributions, supplied the nominations. 

The CAP awards are given in several categories including youth, land, water, wildlife, forest, education, farming and ranching. For 2012, 12 awards were given, along with the President’s special award for meritorious service to the KWF.

These are the most prestigious conservation-related awards given in Kansas and are patterned after similar awards in most other states through respective state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. Long-time professor of biology at Kansas State University, Robert Robel of Manhattan won the overall award, Conservationist of the Year. Dr. Robel passed away last month so his wife, Anise, accepted the award in his place. 

Award sponsors for these awards included Westar, Inc., Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Geary County Fish and Game Association, the Watershed Institute, the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney, Kansas Farmers Union and the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.

The 2012 Farmer/Rancher Wildlife Conservationist Award was presented to Caleb Stotts of Fredonia. Caleb has a tremendous interest in the natural history and conservation of biodiversity on the Stotts Ranch in Elk Countywest of Fredonia. He manages this property as part of his family’s LLC partnership trust. A University of Kansasalum, Caleb developed his interest in ecology from Kelly Kindscher. Caleb has worked actively with conservation and academic communities in improving the environmental quality of the ranch.

Caleb coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and professors at Emporia State University andWichita State University to arrange for habitat restoration on the 6,300-acre native prairie ranch. Funded under a Partners For Wildlife grant, the management plan is to be done on a landscape-scale design. The plan calls to restore the native savanna from a closed-canopy, encroached forest and then evaluate the responses of flora and fauna. Caleb also performed the tree stand thinning and other habitat work in the field.

Caleb is great to work with, providing access to this tremendous landscape for ESU and WSU biologists (and some folks from U of Missouri as well) who have been doing studies related to black jack and post oak savanna conservation on the ranch. He has actively inquired about their findings and has attended formal presentations by these biologists at various meetings. 

Even before the activities stated above, Caleb was lead author on a paper describing the need for savanna conservation in the Cross Timbers region (Stotts et al. 2007, Okla. Native Plant Record 7:78). Caleb truly has genuine interests and active involvement in the conservation of biodiversity on the family’s ranch.

The Stotts Ranch supports numerous Greater Prairie-chicken leks. Personnel from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism have surveyed GRPCs and other grassland birds there.

The Kansas Farmers Union of McPherson sponsored the Farmer/Rancher Wildlife Conservationist of the Year award.

Caleb Stotts is an excellent steward of prairie wildlife and their habitat and a fitting recipient of the Kansas Wildlife Federation Farmer/Rancher Wildlife Conservationist of the Year award for 2012.

Paul and Kristan Dean, Madison, wins KWF Forest Conservation Award

The Dean family, Paul, Kristan and Octavian, from Madison, receive the 2012 Forest Conservationist award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President, right. The Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation sponsored the Forest Conservationist award.
The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) proudly announces winners of the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards (CAP). KWF honored thirteen recipients on February 23rd at a reception and banquet in their honor in Emporia.

For 49 years, the Federation has recognized Kansans who have devoted exceptional efforts for wildlife conservation in the state. Kansans, who wished to recognize the awardees for their contributions, supplied the nominations. 

The CAP awards are given in several categories including youth, land, water, wildlife, forest, education, farming and ranching. For 2012, 12 awards were given, along with the President’s special award for meritorious service to the KWF.

These are the most prestigious conservation-related awards given in Kansas and are patterned after similar awards in most other states through respective state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. Long-time professor of biology at Kansas State University, Robert Robel of Manhattan won the overall award, Conservationist of the Year. Dr. Robel passed away last month so his wife, Anise, accepted the award in his place. 

Award sponsors for these awards included Westar, Inc., Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Geary County Fish and Game Association, the Watershed Institute, the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney, Kansas Farmers Union and the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.

The 2012 Forest Conservationist Award was presented to Paul and Kristan Dean of Madison. The Paul and Kristan Dean family has been improving the woodland and forest resources on their Greenwood County Tree Farm for over 40 years, following the recommendations of professional foresters and wildlife biologists. Paul Dean learned the values of forest and wildlife conservation from his father, Kenneth, who involved him in timber and wildlife habitat improvement projects since he was a boy, including the marking of 21,000 board feet of timber in 1971 for thinning and harvest. Another 20 acre timber stand improvement practice was conducted in 1981 followed by a timber harvest in 1994. Each harvest and timber stand improvement practice improved the health of the forest, removing undesirable trees, such as honeylocust and Osage orange, and releasing higher quality trees such as black walnut and bur oak which also increased acorn production for deer and other wildlife. 

Because of these efforts the American Tree Farm System recognized the property in 2003 as meeting their eight standards of forest sustainability and 112 acres of woodlands surrounding Halderman Creek were certified as a Tree Farm.  Most recently thousands of black walnut and bur oak were planted on 8 acres and an additional 6 acres of timber stand improvement work was completed. The Dean family accomplishes all this work on their own.

In addition to their woodlands, the Dean family has worked to improve the health of their grasslands by removing woody species thus improving habitat for upland birds. The Deans have also established grass buffers adjacent to Halderman Creek to improve both water quality and wildlife habitat. 

In 2009 the Dean’s hosted a woodland management field day as part of the local Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) project. The field day informed around 30 people on proper forest management and sustaining water quality by protecting and managing riparian areas. A lawyer by profession, Paul provided his services to enable the Kansas Forestry Association to obtain Not-for-Profit status as a 501(c) 3. The Kansas Forest Service, Kansas Forestry Association, Kansas Tree Farm Committee and Kansas Chapter of the Walnut Council recognized Paul and Kristan as the 2012 Forest Stewardship Tree Farmers of the Year for the exceptional stewardship of their property.

Paul and Kristan Dean are not only interested in conserving and managing the forest, woodland and wildlife resources on their property, they are encouraging others to leave a legacy of good environmental stewardship for future generations, including their son, Octavian.

The Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation sponsored the Forest Conservationists of the Year award.

For their dedication and interest in sustaining the quality and productivity of woodlands and the wildlife that benefit from them, Paul and Kristan Dean are the winners of the 2012 Kansas Wildlife Federation Forest Conservationists of the Year.

Mike Knotts, Peck, wins KWF Outdoor Skills Instructor Award

Mike Knotts, center, from Peck, receives the 2012 Outdoor Skills Instructor award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President. Also present is Carl Conley, left, KWF Southcentral District Director. The Outdoor Skills Instructor award was sponsored by the Geary County Fish and Game Association of Junction City.
The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) proudly announces winners of the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards (CAP). KWF honored thirteen recipients on February 23rd at a reception and banquet in their honor in Emporia.

For 49 years, the Federation has recognized Kansans who have devoted exceptional efforts for wildlife conservation in the state. Kansans, who wished to recognize the awardees for their contributions, supplied the nominations. 

The CAP awards are given in several categories including youth, land, water, wildlife, forest, education, farming and ranching. For 2012, 12 awards were given, along with the President’s special award for meritorious service to the KWF.

These are the most prestigious conservation-related awards given in Kansas and are patterned after similar awards in most other states through respective state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. Long-time professor of biology at Kansas State University, Robert Robel of Manhattan won the overall award, Conservationist of the Year. Dr. Robel passed away last month so his wife, Anise, accepted the award in his place. 

Award sponsors for these awards included Westar, Inc., Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Geary County Fish and Game Association, the Watershed Institute, the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney, Kansas Farmers Union and the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.

The 2012 Outdoor Skills Instructor of the Year Award was presented to Mike Knotts of Peck.  Mike has been a Hunter Education Instructor since 1977. Having been certified by the Kansas Forestry, Fish and Game Commission (now the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT)), Mike has been very active in teaching boys and girls in safely handling firearms, wildlife conservation and hunter ethics.

He has taught over 180 classes with an average of 5 classes a year, organizing 3 of them each year. Of the classes he has organized, 11,570 students have been certified and received their Hunter Education card.

Mike also has been involved with the administration of the Lake Afton Clinic for many years. He has served as an instructor at the Lake Afton Clinic for 35 years. In 2012 the clinic certified 857 students. With an average of 850 students a year, Mike has been involved with helping nearly 30,000 students to be certified in Hunter Education.

Every year KDWPT hears of parents who attended the Lake Afton Clinic and are now taking their kids back to attend for themselves. It would be interesting to see how many second and perhaps third generation Hunter Ed students have been influenced by Mike over the years.  

Mike is a Master Instructor and the Area coordinator for south central Kansas. Mike has conducted 68 new Instructor orientations or workshops, further extending the influence he has had on young hunters from acrossKansas.

Mike served on the KDWPT Advisory Committee for many years. He has the respect of the hunter education instructors of Kansas and is looked upon as a mentor to many instructors who continue serving the students during the Lake Afton Clinic.

Mike continues to be very involved with hunter education in the Wichita area and provides support for many activities throughout the area by means of the hunter education equipment trailer that he oversees. He assists instructors as well as other shooting sports activities throughout the area. Mike is very involved in the Sedgwick County Law Days Safety Camp each summer.

He has been an instrumental part of the Young Safe Hunters organization in Wichita. In 2011 Mike was nominated for the instructor of the year award. He has been awarded the Order of the Buffalo for outstanding instructors.

The Kansas Wildlife Federation is proud to present to Mike Knotts the recognition of Outdoor Skills Instructor of the Year for 2012.

Mike Calwell, Mission, wins KWF Stream Monitor Award

Mike Calwell, left, from Shawnee Mission, receives the 2012 Stream Monitor award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President. The Stream Monitor award was sponsored by The Watershed Institute of Overland Park.

The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) proudly announces winners of the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards (CAP). KWF honored thirteen recipients on February 23rd at a reception and banquet in their honor in Emporia.

For 49 years, the Federation has recognized Kansans who have devoted exceptional efforts for wildlife conservation in the state. Kansans, who wished to recognize the awardees for their contributions, supplied the nominations. 

The CAP awards are given in several categories including youth, land, water, wildlife, forest, education, farming and ranching. For 2012, 12 awards were given, along with the President’s special award for meritorious service to the KWF.

These are the most prestigious conservation-related awards given in Kansas and are patterned after similar awards in most other states through respective state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. Long-time professor of biology at Kansas State University, Robert Robel of Manhattan won the overall award, Conservationist of the Year. Dr. Robel passed away last month so his wife, Anise, accepted the award in his place. 

Award sponsors for these awards included Westar, Inc., Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Geary County Fish and Game Association, the Watershed Institute, the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney, Kansas Farmers Union and the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.

The 2012 Stream Monitor Award was presented to Mike Calwell of Mission.  A lifelong Kansas resident, Mike has always been attracted to water. He dedicated himself to swimming, first as a high school and college All American, next as an age group and high school swim coach, and now as a Masters swimmer. 

Mike is not only a founding board member of Friends of the Kaw (FOK) (www.kansasriver.org), but his vision of creating access points every ten miles along the 173 mile long river has helped drive and sustain this grassroots environmental organization. Over nearly two decades Mike has dedicated countless volunteer hours to protecting the Kansas River (known locally as the “Kaw”) for future generations. With a unique and collaborative approach to working with communities on building river access points, Mike has inspired both private and public entities to donate over $1 million in in-kind donations. His efforts have literally transformed the Kaw River – for the better.

When Mike started building boat ramps ten years ago, there were just three access points along the Kaw. Mike has built or assisted in building twelve ramps that now provide citizens and tourists of Kansas with recreational access to one of our state’s three public waterways. The minimum price tag for a river access ramp is about $100,000, but Mike is able to keep project costs around $25,000 by using in-kind donations (engineering plans, construction, and other materials from local companies and public entities).

In July of 2012, Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, arrived in Manhattan to take a Kaw river boat trip with Governor Brownback and dedicate the Kansas River as a National Water Trail. Salazar specifically thanked FOK for the work of providing accessibility. Mike’s many years of providing river access was an integral part of this effort. This designation will include further assistance in project funding as well as awareness opportunities.

Since 1994 Mike has organized and led educational canoe floats on the Kansas River. Mike used his own river and paddling knowledge to develop operational and safety guidelines and logistics for these very successful float trips. Thousands of individuals have now experienced the beauty of this prairie river.

Mike’s natural passion for education has led to a series of “sandbar seminars” featuring various river experts. Mike has led numerous public presentations on river morphology and the effects of sand dredging on river health and long-term viability.

Twenty years ago, Kansans considered the Kansas River a “dirty” river, if they thought about it much at all. Thanks in large part to the leadership of dedicated volunteer Mike Calwell, the state and federal government are now starting to realize the river’s potential as a beautiful, historic, and recreational treasure.

The Watershed Institute of Topeka sponsored the Stream Monitor of the Year award.

For all his efforts Mike Calwell deserves to be recognized as the 2012 Stream Monitor of the Year by the Kansas Wildlife Federation.

Matt Smith, Wilson, wins KWF Wildlife Conservationist Award

Matt Smith, center, from Wilson, receives the 2012 Wildlife Conservationist of the Year award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President. Randy Rodgers, left, represented the Kansas Chapter of The Wildlife Society which sponsored the Wildlife Conservationist award.

The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) proudly announces winners of the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards (CAP). KWF honored thirteen recipients on February 23rd at a reception and banquet in their honor in Emporia.

For 49 years, the Federation has recognized Kansans who have devoted exceptional efforts for wildlife conservation in the state. Kansans, who wished to recognize the awardees for their contributions, supplied the nominations. 

The CAP awards are given in several categories including youth, land, water, wildlife, forest, education, farming and ranching. For 2012, 12 awards were given, along with the President’s special award for meritorious service to the KWF.

These are the most prestigious conservation-related awards given in Kansas and are patterned after similar awards in most other states through respective state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. Long-time professor of biology at Kansas State University, Robert Robel of Manhattan won the overall award, Conservationist of the Year. Dr. Robel passed away last month so his wife, Anise, accepted the award in his place. 

Award sponsors for these awards included Westar, Inc., Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Geary County Fish and Game Association, the Watershed Institute, the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney, Kansas Farmers Union and the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.

The 2012 Wildlife Conservationist Award was presented to Matt Smith of Wilson. Matt has had a long and successful career with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT). He started as a District Wildlife Biologist in the SW area, and then moved to a similar position in the NW at Wilson. He took on the additional responsibility as a Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) Area Biologist.

After the retirement of the full-time Farm Bill Coordinator, Matt assumed those duties as well for a period of time. A couple years ago he was relieved of the NRCS duties and many of his district duties so he could focus on Farm Bill issues. With most all Kansas land in agriculture production and management of this land highly influenced by the federal Farm Bill, this activity is very important to the welfare of Kansas wildlife populations and their habitat.

In the Farm Bill position Matt has excelled at coordination among various United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies, non-governmental groups like Pheasants Forever and KDWPT. He has been active in working with national committees and working groups, like the Midwest Association of Wildlife Agencies, to influence the development of the conservation title of the Farm Bill in Congress. These groups have been very successful with programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). At its high, over 3-million acres of land was planted to CRP grasses in Kansas.

Matt has always been willing to step up and do additional duties that may not have been his primary responsibility, often working in more than one capacity. An example of this occurred recently when Matt took the lead in the acquisition of the 160-acre Gurley Wetland in Lincoln County for KDWPT, overcoming several hurdles typical for these projects. Generations of hunters and wildlife enthusiasts to come will enjoy this marsh due to Matt’s dedicated work. Because of his positive contact with Matt, Mr. Gurley has made additional contributions to promote youth hunting.

In addition to his official duties, Matt has worked with several professional organizations. Having served in several lower positions, he currently is the President of the Kansas Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Matt has been instrumental in coordinating the Kansas Natural Resource Conference, serving on the Steering Committee the last three years and as the Program Committee Chair the last two years.

The Kansas Chapter of The Wildlife Sociaty sponsored the Wildlife Conservationist of the Year award.

Matt Smith has provided dedicated service to KDWPT and the sportsmen and sportswomen of Kansas in a professional way. The Kansas Wildlife Federation is proud to present the Wildlife Conservationist of the Year award for 2012 to Matt Smith.

Stephen DeHart, Olathe, wins KWF Youth Conservationist Award

Stephen DeHart, left, from Olathe, received the 2012 Youth Conservationist of the Year award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President. The Bundleflower Plant and Wildflower Preserve (the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney) sponsored the Youth Conservationist award.
The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) proudly announces winners of the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards (CAP). KWF honored thirteen recipients on February 23rd at a reception and banquet in their honor in Emporia.

For 49 years, the Federation has recognized Kansans who have devoted exceptional efforts for wildlife conservation in the state. Kansans, who wished to recognize the awardees for their contributions, supplied the nominations. 

The CAP awards are given in several categories including youth, land, water, wildlife, forest, education, farming and ranching. For 2012, 12 awards were given, along with the President’s special award for meritorious service to the KWF.

These are the most prestigious conservation-related awards given in Kansas and are patterned after similar awards in most other states through respective state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. Long-time professor of biology at Kansas State University, Robert Robel of Manhattan won the overall award, Conservationist of the Year. Dr. Robel passed away last month so his wife, Anise, accepted the award in his place. 

Award sponsors for these awards included Westar, Inc., Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Geary County Fish and Game Association, the Watershed Institute, the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney, Kansas Farmers Union and the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.

The 2012 Youth Conservationist Award was presented to Stephen DeHart of Olathe. Two years ago Stephen was working on Olathe South High School‘s Ornate Box Turtle research project at the Prairie Center. Jeff Witters had founded this project at Olathe and then took Stephen under his wing to teach him the ways of birding.

Stephen’s dedication for wanting to be out in Kansas‘ summer heat while tracking turtles through the underbrush was noteworthy. His knowledge for Kansas‘ flora and fauna increased almost exponentially. He seemed to be like a sponge and soaked up information as fast as he could read or experience it.

Because of the expertise he developed that summer, Stephen was asked by Rene Gloshen, Student Naturalist Teacher at Olathe South High School, to be part of their Kansas Eco-meet team. He was unable to participate because he was already on the cross country team. Two weeks before the regional Eco-meet that fall, he stopped by Ms. Gloshen’s office asking if he could be on an eco-meet team. Due to an injury he could not run. Bad for cross country but great for Ms. Gloshen! She had not found enough students who wanted to do the Eco-meet but because Stephen wanted to do this they got busy and pulled together a team. Stephen took 1st place in Ornithology andWoodland at both regional and State after practicing as a team only twice!

This past fall, with Stephen leading the group, Olathe South not only had 3 regional teams, but his team qualified for State. Once again Stephen took 1st in Ornithology at State. What was amazing to watch was Stephen’s desire to teach the other team members about Kansas‘ birds. He went into great detail and made power point presentations and practice quizzes for everyone. He showed them the minute details between some of the more difficult species to identify.

Currently Stephen is in the Student Naturalist class. He has exhibited an amazing drive to learn the finest details not just in birds but in all areas of conservation and ecology. Other students want to sit next to him in class because he has a way of teaching new study methods and giving them confidence that they too can learn to identify our native species.

It is hard to say which area of the life sciences will end up winning Stephen over, but whatever path he chooses it will always be laced with a love of wildlife.

The Bundleflower Plant and Wildflower Preserve (the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney) sponsored the Youth Conservationist of the Year award. 

For his deep interested in wildlife conservation and ecology and especially for his teaching contributions to his fellow students, the Kansas Wildlife Federation is pleased to present our Youth Conservationist of the Year award for 2012 to Stephen DeHart.

1234