EDGEFIELD, S.C. — Sarah Johnson of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service accepted the NWTF’s NRCS Making Tracks Award during its 50th anniversary celebration at the 47th annual National Wild Turkey Federation Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak.
“Words can’t explain it,” Johnson said at the NWTF’s Golden Awards Gala. “Having a partnership with the NWTF has been fantastic and being able to be a part of that is amazing. Sometimes you just love your job, and you do the work; you don’t realize that you get looked at, and so it kind of took me by surprise. I had no idea I was getting the award.”
The Making Tracks with the NRCS awards recognize people or projects that best incorporate conservation education, partnerships and wild turkey management to support the NWTF’s conservation delivery.
Johnson’s introduction to Idaho NRCS was through her occupation as a cooperative forester between the NWTF and the NRCS through the National Forestry Initiative, a program dedicated to aiding private landowners across the country and fostering greater stewardship of America’s natural resources.
Through the NFI agreement, Johnson was relied upon to represent NRCS and exercise her forestry expertise educating landowners through one-on-one forest walk-throughs, writing forest management plans, recommending silvicultural treatments that meet landowner objectives and how NRCS programs can offer financial incentive. Her approachable manner and ability to communicate technical forestry concepts in an easy-to-understand manner accelerated the scope and scale of on-the-ground work. Johnson is also an avid hunter and understands the importance of wildlife habitat management.
“Our partnerships are part of what make the NWTF so successful at delivering our mission,” NWTF co-CEO Kurt Dyroff said. “Through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, we have impacted hundreds of thousands of private land acres; Sarah’s work is an extension of this. We are proud to recognize her commitment to making an impact on private lands across Idaho with the Making Tracks NRCS Award.”
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 conserved or enhanced over 22 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The organization continues to drive wildlife conservation, forest resiliency and robust recreational opportunities throughout the U.S. by working across boundaries on a landscape scale.
2023 is the NWTF’s 50th anniversary and an opportunity to propel the organization’s mission into the future while honoring its rich history. For its 50th anniversary, the NWTF has set six ambitious goals: positively impact 1 million acres of wildlife habitat; raise $500,000 for wild turkey research; increase membership to 250,000 members; dedicate $1 million to education and outreach programs; raise $5 million to invest in technology and NWTF’s people; and raise $5 million to build toward a $50 million endowment for the future. Learn how you can help us reach these lofty goals.
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