“Spirit of the Shack” Achievement Award
This award will be given to the individual who exemplifies the ideals of the great conservationist and educator, Aldo Leopold, and who has contributed to conservation in a superior way. This individual should epitomize stewardship and dedication to fish and wildlife conservation.
Nominations should include candidates name, title, member state/providence, a description of the work that qualifies this person for this award including specific projects or accomplishments relevant to the award specifications, also included should be the name and title of the person making the nomination.
A plaque will be given to the recipient of this award stating that is was given by the MAFWA, that it is the ”Spirit of the Shack” Achievement Award, the name of the recipient and the year awarded.
Past Recipients
- 2024 Greg Wagner, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- 2023 William (Bill) Jensen, North Dakota Game & Fish Department
- 2022 Mike Hubbard, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2021 Michael Parker, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2021 Jason Jensen, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2020 Joseph Paul, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2019 Bill White, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2018 Danny Hartwig, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2017 Tom Draper, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2016 Edward K. Boggess, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2016 William Suchy, Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources (posthumous)
- 2015 Scott Walter, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2014 Ray Eisbrener, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2013 Chris Vitello, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2012 Andrew Hulin, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2011 Gus Raeker, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2010 Rex Amack, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- 2009 Glen Salmon, Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2008 Dennis Figg, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2007 Scott Simpson, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2006 Kenneth Russell, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2005 Jim Mick, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
Midwest President’s Award
This award would be very similar to the award above only that this would be directed at an NGO or political individual. The Midwest President will select the recipient of this award, not the awards committee.
A plaque will be given to the recipient of this award stating that is was given by the MAFWA, that it is the Midwest President’s Award, the name of the recipient and the year awarded.
Past Recipients
- 2024 Ducks Unlimited
- 2023 Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
- 2022 Chicago Wilderness
- 2021 George Meyer, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
- 2020 Kelley Myers, U.S Fish & Wildlife Service
- 2019 Dave Nomsen, Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever
- 2018 Todd Porter, ND State Representative
- 2017 Audubon Nebraska
- 2016 National Wildlife Federation
- 2015 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Region 3
- 2014 Great Lakes Fisheries Commission
- 2013 National Conservation Leadership Institute
- 2012 Natural Resources Conservation Service-Kansas
- 2011 National Archery in the Schools
- 2010 National Wild Turkey Federation
- 2009 Wildlife Forever
- 2008 Colorado Chapter of The Nature Conservancy
- 2007 Pheasants Forever
- 2006 The Wildlife Management Institute
- 2005 U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
This will be awarded to the individual who in the past year has shown superior leadership, initiative, and dedication in their duties. This person should personify achievement, public service, education, and above all natural resource conservation.
Nominations should include candidates name, title, member state/providence, a description of the work that qualifies this person for this award including specific projects or accomplishments relevant to the award specifications, also included should be the name and title of the person making the nomination.
A plaque will be given to the recipient of this award stating that is was given by the MAFWA, that it is the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award, the name of the recipient and the year awarded.
Past Recipients
- 2024 Earl Simmons, Manitoba Wildlife Conservation Service
- 2023 Bryan Lockman, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2022 Bruce Nachtigall, South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
- 2021 Brian Lebel, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2020 Jason McCullough, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2019 Mitch Boyum, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2018 Edward McCann, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2017 Jerrod Alley, Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Resources
- 2016 Dustin Whitehead, Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2015 Gregory Swanson, Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2014 Robert Stroess, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2013 Russ Fell, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2012 William (Bill) Miller, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2011 Ted Dremel, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2010 Darren Unreiner, Alberta Wildlife Management Divison
- 2009 Shawn Pennington, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2008 Jeff Finn, Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Resources
- 2007 Brian Bartlett, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2006 Kyke Drake, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2005 Kim Rhodes, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
Wildlife Biologist of the Year
This award will go to the individual who has shown an unparalleled initiative towards the better understanding of wildlife and their conservation.
Nominations should include candidates name, title, member state/providence, a description of the work that qualifies this person for this award including specific projects or accomplishments relevant to the award specifications, also included should be the name and title of the person making the nomination.
A plaque will be given to the recipient of this award stating that is was given by the MAFWA, that it is the Wildlife Biologist of the Year award, the name of the recipient and the year awarded.
Past Recipients
- 2024 Brenda Kelly, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2023 Joe DeBold, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2023 Bob Ford, Ohio Division of Wildlife
- 2022 Zach Couch, Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Resources
- 2021 Laura Conlee, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2020 Alan Leary, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2019 Laura Kerns, Ohio Division of Wildlife
- 2018 Nancy Christel, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2017 Max Alleger, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2016 Dan Halstead, North Dakota Game & Fish Department
- 2015 John Olson, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2014 Andy Lindbloom, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
- 2013 Jim Pitman, Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
- 2012 Chad Steward, Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2011 Lloyd Fox, Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
- 2010 John Niewonder, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2009 Thomas Beissel, Illinois Dept. of Conservation
- 2008 John H. Schulz, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2007 Todd Nordeen, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
- 2006 Ray Norrgard, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2005 Bruce Morrison, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
Fisheries Biologist of the Year
This honor will be awarded to the individual who has shown an unparalleled initiative towards the better understanding of fishes and their conservation.
Nominations should include candidates name, title, member state/providence, a description of the work that qualifies this person for this award including specific projects or accomplishments relevant to the award specifications, also included should be the name and title of the person making the nomination.
A plaque will be given to the recipient of this award stating that is was given by the MAFWA, that it is the Fisheries Biologist of the Year award, the name of the recipient and the year awarded.
Past Recipients
- 2024 Eric Weimer, Ohio Division of Wildlife
- 2023 Keith Koupal, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
- 2022 Matthew Mitro, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2021 Dan Mosier II, Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
- 2020 Jacob Davis, South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
- 2019 Paul Michaletz, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2018 Bruce Drecktrah, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2017 Mark Flammang, Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2016 Jonathan Meerbeek, Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2015 Paul D. Calvert, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2014 Randal Claramout, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2013 Michael Hawkins, Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2012 Craig Fuller, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2011 Tommie Berger, Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
- 2010 John Lyons, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2009 Peter Jacobson, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2008 Don Bonneau, Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2007 Steven J. Shults, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2005 Richard Peterson, Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources
Excellence in Conservation
This award will recognize the agency that has shown excellence in conservation through a specific project. Each member agency would select one project completed in the awards year that exemplifies the goal of fish and wildlife conservation.
Each member state/providence in order to be considered for the award must submit a nomination entry. Each agency should outline one project highlighting the exceptional conservation efforts of such project and submit it to the awards committee.
A perpetual plaque would be awarded to the winning agency and would remain with that agency until the next awards ceremony where the next winner would take custody of the plaque until the following year. Each year the winning agency will have their name and year they won engraved on the plaque.
Past Recipients
- 2024 Chris Young, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources Climate Action Plan
- 2023 Ohio Division of Wildlife, H2Ohio Program
- 2022 South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Habitat and Access Team
- 2020 Give Adventure Grant Team, Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2019 Kansas Certified Angler Instructor Program, Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
- 2018 Wildlife, Marketing and Outreach Division, MI DNR
- 2018 Grasslands for Gamebirds and Songbirds Committee, IN DNR
- 2017 Joe Caudell & Indiana TB Team
- 2016 Ohio Environmental Crimes Unit
- 2015 Missouri Stream Team
- 2014 Fish Habitat Initiative, Missouri
- 2013 Middle Harbor, Ohio
- 2013 South Dakota Wildlife Division
- 2012 Missouri River Outdoor Expo-Nebraska
- 2012 Indiana Healthy Rivers Initiative-Indiana
Sagamore of the Forest, Fields and Streams
A sagamore is the head, chief of first or second rank, or great person among a group to whom the chief looks for wisdom and advice. This honor is bestowed on any Director or upper level staff member that has contributed significant service to MAFWA. To qualify for this recognition, recipients must provide 4 years of service to MAFWA, have a 75 percent meeting attendance rate and serve on one or more committees.
Past Recipients
- 2024 Sara Parker Pauley, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2024 Brad Loveless, Kansas Wildlife and Parks
- 2023 Colleen Callahan, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2021 Jim Douglas, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
- 2021 Terry Steinwand, North Dakota Game & Fish Department
- 2021 Kelly Hepler, South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
- 2021 Dale Garner, Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2019 Mark Reiter, Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2019 Wayne Rosenthal, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2018 Keith Sexson, Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
- 2016 Ed Boggess, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2016 Scott Zody, Ohio Division of Wildlife (posthumous)
- 2015 Jeff Vonk, South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
- 2015 Scott Gunderson, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2014 Joe Kramer, Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
- 2014 Jon Gassett, Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Resources
- 2012 Rex Amack, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
- 2011 Dave Graham, Ohio Division of Wildlife
- 2011 Scott Hassett, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2011 John Hoskins, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2011 Rebecca Humphries, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2011 Richard Leopold, Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2011 Dave Schad, Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2011 Jeff Ver Steeg, Colorado Division of Wildlife
- 2011 Dan Zekor, Missouri Dept. of Conservation
- 2010 Joe Kramer, Kansas Wildlife & Parks
- 2009 Glen Salmon, Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2009 Tom Niebauer, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2009 Mike Conlin, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2007 Steve Gray, Ohio Division of Wildlife
Special Recognition Award
This award is presented to an individual, group or organization in recognition of significant cooperation, partnership or service they have provided to MAFWA. This award is somewhat similar to the President’s Award but is different because the MAFWA Executive Committee shall determine and vote when and to whom this award is presented.
Past Recipients
- 2024 Michelle Wilson, Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2024 Chuck Traxler, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- 2024 Lane Kisonack, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
- 2024 Steve Williams, Wildlife Management Institute
- 2022 Charlie Wooley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- 2022 Ed Boggess, Midwest Assn. of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
- 2022 Becky Humphries, National Wild Turkey Federation
- 2022 Howard K. Vincent, Pheasants Forever
- 2021 Noreen Walsh, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- 2021 Doug Nygren, Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
- 2020 Sheila and Dan Kemmis, Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
- 2020 Kyle Kaskie, South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks
- 2019 Carolyn Caldwell, MAFWA CITES Representative
- 2018 John Fischer, Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study
- 2018 Tom Melius, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- 2018 St. Louis Zoo
- 2017 Kelley Myers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- 2015 Sharon Schafer, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources
- 2011 Iowa Water and Land Legacy
- 2008 Robyn Thorson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- 2008 Carol Bambery, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
- 2006 John Baughman, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
- 2003 Tom Young, Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources