Staff Spotlight Series: Palmetto Shooting Complex

Rhett Simmons and Cameron Cumbee are talented staff members at the Palmetto Shooting Complex, a 300-acre world-class shooting facility in Edgefield, South Carolina. The facility is home to five trap and skeet overlays, two sporting clays courses, 3D archery and a nearly 9,300-square-foot pavilion and classroom.

From mentoring newcomers to organizing events, these individuals are at the forefront of our mission to foster a love for the outdoors and preserve our hunting heritage through shooting sports.

Rhett Simmons, Manager of the Palmetto Shooting Complex

Growing up on a farm in Iowa, Rhett Simmons was surrounded by a deep family tradition of respecting and caring for the outdoors. Immersed in hunting and fishing from an early age, he always sought ways to give back. His passion for these outdoor activities naturally guided him toward a career in the outdoor space.

 “I was lucky enough to draw one of 50 tags issued in the first ever spring turkey hunt in Iowa in 1974 in the area where our family farm was located,” Simmons said. “I have been addicted ever since. When I learned there were other like-minded people that belonged to something called the National Wild Turkey Federation, I quickly attended my first NWFT banquet and asked how I could help. I moved away from the family farm to attend college, started a chapter in there and continued asking to do more, getting more involved.”

Simmons began his career with the NWTF in 1999 as regional director in Iowa before moving to Edgefield, South Carolina in 2001. It was then he began a position as special events coordinator, running NWTF’s National Shooting Program, SHOT Show and logistics and fundraising at the National Convention.

“With the different roles I have undertaken for the NWTF, I have had the opportunity to see all facets of this organization and how we work together to make a difference in the conservation world,” Simmons said. 

In 2014, Simmons played a key role in designing and building the Palmetto Shooting Complex, where he has continued his work with the NWTF as manager after its completion.

“At the Palmetto Shooting Complex, we host events for youth and inexperienced, as well as tournaments for the avid shooter,” Simmons said. “It’s always great to introduce someone new to the shooting sports and help eliminate one barrier for them to join the ranks of those of us that hunt.”

Looking ahead, Simmons is eager to keep introducing new people to shooting sports, guiding first-time hunters into the woods and sharing the sport he loves. Recognizing the critical importance of NWTF’s mission to conserve wild turkeys and preserve our hunting heritage, he encourages others to get involved and make a difference.

“I believe in the mission of the NWTF,” Simmons said. “This organization is doing it the right way, whether through our conservation efforts, fundraising, volunteer recruitment, outreach and retention work and government relations. I get great satisfaction knowing that my two daughters will see improved natural places and the wildlife that inhabit them because of the work I contribute to the NWTF’s mission.”

Cameron Cumbee, PSC/HHC Maintenance Technician

Cameron Cumbee’s connection to the outdoors runs deep, rooted in generations of family traditions that have shaped his life and career. From early father-son hunts to dog drives and hunts with friends, Cumbee’s experiences in hunting, fishing and conservation are integral parts of his identity.

“My father was an outdoorsman and taxidermist, and my grandfather was also an outdoorsman whose lessons and love for conservation have been passed through my father to me,” Cumbee said. “Both of them were members and spoke highly of NWTF, and now I’m lucky enough to be working for them at the Palmetto Shooting Complex in Edgefield.”

At the Palmetto Shooting Complex and Hunting Heritage Center, Cumbee serves as a multi-craft maintenance technician. His role is diverse, and he can be found working on equipment or clay target machines for youth and benefit shoots, helping beginners or building relationships with the volunteers who visit the complex. Cumbee also assists with tractor work, helping to conserve and tend to the land at the shooting ranges and the Hunting Heritage Center as needed.

“I step in when and where I’m needed or called to help and try my best to do what I can for NWTF’s community, mission and my co-workers,” Cumbee said.

Cumbee’s passion for the outdoors and conservation is not just a job; it’s a way of life. Before joining the NWTF, he pursued his interests through the Future Farmers of America club in high school and by working with a family friend on farming hay and crops.

“The challenge for me was coming into the realization that I wanted to pursue a life and career in farming and outdoors, but by the time I got out of high school, most of the small farms and land owners in my area were sold to bigger farms, or outsourced the work on the land,” Cumbee said. “My experiences with FFA, including visits to large-scale farms, made me realize how the agricultural industry was changing and expanding rapidly. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the resources to keep up, and I also dealt with some injuries while trying to find a path forward. But, I eventually realized that it wasn’t the end of the road but the beginning.”

For Cumbee, the turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when outdoor work remained resilient compared to other industries.

“I was hired by NWTF for the shooting complex and Hunting Heritage Center, and not only was I working outdoors—which was my ambition—but I also got a job centered around conservation, wildlife and shooting sports,” Cumbee said. “It brought together so many of my values into a career. It was a challenge finding a career in the outdoors at first, but I overcame it with a helping hand, and that’s really what conservation is about—providing a helping hand to the land and habitats to make them more balanced, natural and better.”

Cumbee is deeply grateful for the opportunity to work in conservation, honoring the values instilled in him by his father and grandfather.

“I always loved being outdoors and working outdoors, I’m grateful to find a job within a conservation organization and community that has some of the same values that were taught to me by generations before me, which I feel is why conservation is much needed and a great mission,” he said.

As for his future, Cumbee remains open and eager to learn and grow within the NWTF, hoping to continue building relationships with volunteers, members and co-workers, along with teaching and bringing in beginners in shooting and conservation.

“I want to keep learning and becoming more experienced, maybe even branch out into certifications or online classes, and stay in touch with today’s conservation media to see what’s new, what’s changed and what’s needed,” Cumbee said.

When asked for advice for others interested in a career in conservation or the outdoors, Cumbee offers wisdom grounded in experience.

“My advice is to not give up on looking for a career that fits your values and gives you the pleasure of being outdoors,” he said. “There are more opportunities today for people like me who have big ambitions but may lack the land or assets to do so. It takes conservationists united to make a difference. Conservation is a great mission that has spread widely, and organizations like NWTF, other conservation groups, department of natural resources and shooting sports have all played a role in that by providing opportunities, jobs, events, research funding and more—all in the name of conserving the outdoors and creating careers for people interested in pursuing this path.”