EDGEFIELD, S.C. — During the 85th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, in front of a room of peers in the conservation world, National Wild Turkey Federation CEO Becky Humphries received the George Bird Grinnell Memorial Award — the highest individual honor bestowed by the Wildlife Management Institute and an award considered to be the highest honor in the natural resources profession.
“I am extremely honored to be awarded the George Bird Grinnell Award from the Wildlife Management Institute. This award is as iconic as its namesake, George Bird Grinnell, the Father of American Conservation,” said Humphries. “To be recognized by the Wildlife Management Institute is humbling. They have been the forefront of conservation in the United States and are true leaders.”
According to the WMI, the award named for Grinnell recognizes those who have dedicated their career and, in many ways, their life to natural resource protection.
“The Wildlife Management Institute is pleased and proud to present its Georgia Bird Grinnell Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Natural Resources Conservation to an individual whose character, dedication and friendship place her at the top of an elite list of stellar professionals who have dedicated their careers to North American natural resource conservation,” WMI President Steve Williams said.
Humphries’ impressive resume spans more than 40 years of experience in wildlife management and conservation. Before holding prominent roles with the NWTF — chief conservation and operations officer, vice president of conservation and now CEO — she served as the director of operations in the Great Lakes/Atlantic Region for Ducks Unlimited, focusing on conservation delivery, policy and science. She also served the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment for 32 years, including seven years as department director.
Additionally, Humphries served as vice president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, on the Executive Committee of AFWA and the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and chaired the Wildlife Health subcommittee for the Boone and Crockett Club. Humphries also serves on the executive committee for the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports and the Wildlife Hunting Heritage Conservation Council.
Previous Grinnell Award recipients include Dan Decker, John Fischer, Jimmy Bullock, Dave Nomsen, Gordon Batcheller, John Organ, Gary Taylor, Robert Blohm, Alan Wentz, John Cooper, Patrick Noonan, Gary Meyers, Marshall Jones, Duane Shroufe, James Earl Kennamer, Wayne MacCallum, Daniel Poole, Perry and Lee Bass, Dick Lattimer and Bill Stevens.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters’ rights. Today, the NWTF is focused on the future of hunting and conservation through its Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative – a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to conserve or enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting. For more information, visit NWTF.org.
