MAFWA AWARDS
The Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) Awards Program recognizes outstanding individuals, organizations, and partnerships advancing fish and wildlife conservation across the Midwest. Each year, the MAFWA Awards program honors excellence in leadership, innovation, research, education, and public service that support natural resource management. Explore award categories and share your nomination with us so we can celebrate those making a lasting impact on conservation.
Nominations should include:
- Nominee's name, email address, title, member state/province
- Overview explaining why the individual/agency meets the criteria for the award (under 600 words) relevant to the award specifications
- Specific projects, work, or accomplishments relevant to the award (under 600 words)relevant to the award specifications
- Nominator's email address, title, member state/province
Award nomination deadline is Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Please complete this nomination form and send to awards@mafwa.org
"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 has contributed to conservation in a superior way. This individual should epitomize stewardship and dedication to fish and wildlife conservation.
A plaque will be given to the recipient of this award stating that the MAFWA provided it, that it is the ”Spirit of the Shack” Achievement Award, the name of the recipient, and the year awarded.
Past Recipients
- 2025 Scott Luedtke, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- 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 directed at an NGO or political figure. 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 the MAFWA provided it, that it is the Midwest President’s Award, the name of the recipient, and the year awarded.
Past Recipients
- 2025 Mississippi Flyway Council
- 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.
A plaque will be given to the recipient of this award stating that the MAFWA provided it, that it is the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award, the name of the recipient, and the year awarded.
Past Recipients
- 2025 Cody Fox, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
- 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 Division
- 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 unparalleled initiative in advancing the understanding of wildlife and their conservation.
A plaque will be given to the recipient of this award stating that the MAFWA provided it, that it is the Wildlife Biologist of the Year award, the name of the recipient, and the year awarded.
Past Recipients
- 2025 Stan McTaggart, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
- 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 demonstrated unparalleled initiative in advancing understanding of fish and their conservation.
A plaque will be given to the recipient of this award stating that the MAFWA provided it, that it is the Fisheries Biologist of the Year award, the name of the recipient, and the year awarded.
Past Recipients
- 2025 Kim Bogenschutz, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- 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
Business Professional of the Year
This honor will be awarded to the individual who has demonstrated unparalleled initiative in delivering excellent business services that benefit fish and wildlife and their conservation.
2025 Sara Oellerich, Missouri Department of Conservation
Education/Communication Professional of the Year
This honor will be awarded to the individual who has demonstrated unparalleled initiative in delivering excellent educational and communication work that benefits fish and wildlife and their conservation.
2025 Monica Macoubrie, Nebraska Game & Parks
Fish and Wildlife Technician of the Year
This honor will be awarded to the individual who has demonstrated unparalleled initiative and delivered excellent work in the field to benefit fish and wildlife and their conservation.
2025 Sara Zaleski, Ohio Division of Wildlife
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/province must submit a nomination entry to be considered for the award. Each agency should outline one project that highlights the exceptional conservation efforts of that project and submit it to the awards committee.
A perpetual plaque would be awarded to the winning agency. It would remain with that agency until the following awards ceremony, where the next winner would take custody of the plaque until the following year. Each year, the winning agency will have its name and the year it won engraved on the plaque.
Past Recipients
- 2025 South Dakota, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Design, Fabrication, and Operation
- 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 a 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 who 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
- 2025 Brian Clark, Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Resources
- 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
- 2025 MAFWA Website Needs Assessment and Recommendation Team
- 2025 Craig Czarnecki, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- 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
