Smith Earns National Conservation Award
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — North Carolina NWTF volunteer Henry Smith received national recognition from the National Wild Turkey Federation as one of the recipients of the Roger M. Latham Sportsman Wild Turkey Service Awards for his extraordinary dedication to the organization’s mission. Smith received the Roger M. Latham Sportsman Wild Turkey Service Award during the NWTF’s 49th annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak.
“I did it [the volunteer work] because I just enjoy doing this kind of stuff,” Smith said. “I have been treasurer ever since I joined, either local or state. This conservation work is for my grandkids and their grandkids. This award is hard to live up to. Roger Latham did so much for the NWTF. I’ve enjoyed doing what I’ve done, and we’ve had many years of turkey raffles to raise money for the Federation, which we’ve been able to use to buy land and donate it to the wildlife department.”
Smith has been an NWTF volunteer for more than 20 years, first joining the local Franklin County Longbeard’s Chapter with Bryan Perry, current chairman of the NWTF National Board of Directors. Smith has served as the treasurer of this local chapter and was elected to the North Carolina NWTF Chapter Board of Directors in 2009. Soon after, he became the treasurer for the state chapter.
As a treasurer, he manages state Super Fund accounts, the North Carolina Seed Program, outreach events and materials, banquet raffles and the state license tag fund.
In the past, Smith has been awarded the Wayne Bailey Award, the North Carolina Volunteer of the Year Award, Honorary Life Board Member, and has been inducted into the North Carolina NWTF Hall of Fame.
“Henry has done so much over decades to grow the NWTF’s mission impact in North Carolina on a local and state chapter level,” NWTF co-CEO Jason Burckhalter said. “He is a leader and an asset to our great organization. We are proud to recognize his dedication to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage.”
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 positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.