Top Photo: Presenting the awards were Chris Blankenship, Conservation Commissioner; Steve Forehand, AWF President; Horace Horn with PowerSouth Energy; and ¬Susan Comensky with Alabama Power Company.
Michael “Blake” Harris was presented the Hunter Safety Instructor of the Year Award at the 2023 Alabama Wildlife Federation Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards banquet. The Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) held the banquet, co-sponsored by Alabama Power Company and PowerSouth Energy on Friday, August 4, 2023, at The Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill in Prattville. Governor Kay Ivey provided a congratulatory video prepared specifically for the 2023 Award Recipients.
The AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards (GCAA) are the most respected conservation honors in the state of Alabama. Over the past 50 years, AWF has presented these awards to individuals and organizations that make great contributions to the conservation of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources.
Seventeen years ago, Blake Harris made the decision to volunteer his time and talents to the Alabama Hunter Safety Education Program.
In his role as Career Technology teacher at Holt High School, he teaches Hunter Education and Wildlife Conservation as part of his classes. Blake is known as one of Alabama’s most active Hunter Safety instructors. In 2022 alone, he certified 50 students. During his seventeen years, he has impacted hundreds more.
Blake is particularly known for incorporating hands-on activities, field trips, and actual experience in the learning process. He and his students have performed class service projects at Wildlife Management Areas, assisted with deer check-stations, turkey surveys, and maintenance at the Tuscaloosa archery park.
As one of his peers stated, “His enthusiasm and expertise, in the classroom and the field, is a shining example of what all involved in educating and mentoring should strive to be.”
Presenting Sponsors for the event were Alabama Power Company and PowerSouth Energy. The Westervelt Company, Lockheed Martin, Alabama Farm Credit, and Alabama AG Credit¬¬¬ Land & Farm Lenders sponsored the food and refreshments for the event. Alabama Gulf Seafood was sponsored by the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission. Additional sponsor support was provided by the National Wildlife Federation, Southeast Region, David & Kelly Thomas, Ralph & Catherine Martin, III, CDG Engineers & Associates, First South Farm Credit, Josh & Mary Virginia Mandell, Lee Thuston, Russell Lands, Stifel, and Central Alabama Electric Co-Op.
AWF’s GCAA was created to promote leadership by example and in turn increase conservation of the natural resources in the state of Alabama including its wildlife, forests, soils, water and air. The program is designed to bring about a greater knowledge and awareness of conservation practices and projects and to give proper recognition to those persons and organizations that make outstanding contributions to the natural resource welfare of their community and state.
The Alabama Wildlife Federation, established by sportsmen in 1935, is the state’s oldest and largest citizens’ conservation organization. The mission of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit group supported by membership dues and donations, is to promote conservation and wise use of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources as a basis for economic and social prosperity. To learn more about AWF, including membership details, programs and projects, contact Alabama Wildlife Federation at 334-285-4550 or visit www.alabamawildlife.org.
