 Country music star Blake Shelton, seen in this file photo with his lake-record paddlefish, will serve on the board of directors of the new Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Foundation. (Nels Rodefeld/ODWC)
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Country
music star and native Oklahoman Blake Shelton has joined the board of directors
of the new Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Foundation. His board membership was
approved Tuesday during the regular September meeting of the Oklahoma Wildlife
Conservation Commission.
Shelton was approached by Wildlife Department Director J.D. Strong to gauge his interest in supporting
the new charitable entity that will help provide additional support for the
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and its activities in managing the
state’s fish and wildlife resources and habitat.
"When I was 10, my dad took me out in the woods deer hunting with him, and it changed my life forever," Shelton said. "Healthy fish and wildlife, and the opportunities to get outdoors, make Oklahoma a special place to live.
"I'm honored to be selected to serve on the Foundation and can't wait to help further conservation efforts here in our great state."
Shelton,
who grew up hunting and fishing in Oklahoma, has been a longtime supporter of
the Wildlife Department. One of the stars of the hit TV show “The Voice” was asked if he would become an honorary
director, but Shelton instead said he wanted to be fully involved as an active and
voting member of the Foundation’s board.
Shelton’s
home away from Hollywood and the concert circuit is his ranch near Tishomingo.
The
Commission also approved Raegen Siegfried as a new Foundation board
member. He is
vice president of HushWorks for The Nordam Group, a global aerospace
manufacturing and repair company headquartered in Tulsa. Siegfried is
enthusiastic about small business, entrepreneurship, education and wildlife conservation.
Wildlife Commissioner James V. Barwick, also a Foundation board member, said the Foundation is accepting donations.
In other business, the Wildlife Department’s Stars & Stripes Project
received some much-needed reinforcement with two cash donations. The Central
Oklahoma 89er Chapter of Quail Forever gave $5,000, and Oklahoma Trout Unlimited
and Indian Nations Council of Trout Unlimited gave $3,000.
The
Stars & Stripes Project is a donor-funded program that gives
hunting and fishing licenses to military veterans and select survivors of
veterans who gave their lives in service to the country. The Wildlife
Department receives no state-appropriated funding, so this project allows the
Department to show appreciation to veterans while maintaining revenue that
supports important wildlife conservation in the state.
Also Tuesday, the Commission recognized the Partners for Fish and Wildlife
Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for its financial support of the Department's wildlife conservation efforts, including Outdoor Education programs including Oklahoma Archery in the
Schools, Fishing in the Schools, Scholastic Shooting Sports Program and Hunter
Education.
Education
Supervisor Colin Berg said the federal Partners program has contributed nearly $100,000 this fiscal year in support of educational efforts, including the launch of an urban Fishing in the
Schools program. Partners also has contributed $115,000 for a shared biologist and project funding; $50,000 to the Department's Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program; $2,500 for the annual landowner's conservation calendar; and $185,955 for landowner agreements.
Partners officials from state, regional and national offices attended Tuesday's meeting and were thanked by staff and Commissioners.
Also during their meeting, Commissioners:
- Recognized Fred and Randi Wightman of Osage County as the Department’s 2018 Landowner
Conservationists of the Year. Wildlife Regional Supervisor Jeff Pennington
detailed how the Wightmans have transformed their Harrier Hills ranch to
improve wildlife populations and habitat.
- Recognized Bill Newman, assistant manager of the Holdenville Fish Hatchery, as
the 2017 Fisheries Division Professional of the Year award.
- Heard reports from Commissioners and staff who attended the recent annual
conference of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Department
Director J.D. Strong was elected third vice president of WAFWA, and he told
Commissioners that Oklahoma will be the host state for the WAFWA conference in
2022.
- Recognized Wildlife Regional Supervisor Rod Smith for 40 years of service;
Fisheries Regional Supervisor Bill Wentroth for 40 years of service; Wildlife
Habitat Coordinator Kent Swanda for 40 years of service; and Fisheries
Biologist Steve O’Donnell for 35 years of service.
The
Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board
of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Commission establishes
state hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for the Wildlife Department
and indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities.
Commission members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Oklahoma
Senate.
The
next scheduled Commission meeting will be Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, in
Oklahoma City.
 Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was recognized for supporting Outdoor Education. From left are Jonna Polk, Don Wilhelm, Terry Dupree, John Hendrix, Matt Filsinger, ODWC Education Supervisor Colin Berg, and ODWC Director J.D. Strong. (Don P. Brown/ODWC)
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 The Central Oklahoma 89er Quail Forever chapter donates $5,000 to the Stars & Stripes Project. From left, Troy Ellefson, Jerry Huffstutlar, John Bellah, James Dietsch, ODWC Director J.D. Strong, ODWC Assistant Director Melinda Streich, ODWC Assistant Director Wade Free, and ODWC legislative liaison Corey Jager.
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 Oklahoma Chapter and Indian Nations Chapter of Trout Unlimited donate $3,000 to the Stars & Stripes Project. From left: Frank Kohn, Scott Hood, ODWC Director J.D. Strong, ODWC Assistant Director Wade Free, ODWC Assistant Director Melinda Streich, and legislative liaison Corey Jager.
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 Recognizing the 2018 Landowner Conservationist of the Year winners are, from left, ODWC Director J.D. Strong, Jeff Pennington, Fred and Randi Wightman, ODWC Assistant Director Wade Free, and ODWC Chief of Wildlife Alan Peoples.
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