NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Tennessee Wildlife Federation, one of the largest and oldest nonprofits dedicated to the conservation of Tennessee’s wildlife and natural resources, recently hosted its 53rd Annual Conservation Achievement Awards. The ceremony was held in Nashville and presented 16 awards to recipients from all corners of the state, including Clarksville’s Dr. Dwayne Estes.

“Tennessee is the most biologically diverse inland state in the nation and we have a long and rich outdoor heritage in our state. No one organization or person can conserve it own their own,” said Michael Butler, CEO of Tennessee Wildlife Federation. “When our organization was just 20 years old, we started these awards to celebrate those making a meaningful difference to Tennessee’s natural resources. Even after fifty-plus years and more than 600 award winners, we are inspired by the work of this year’s honorees.”

Conservationist of the Year
Dr. Dwayne Estes of Clarksville, Tenn. with work spanning the state
An accomplished professor, Dr. Dwayne Estes, also known as the “Prairie Preacher,” works hard to restore native grassland habitats and wildlife species to thriving levels. As such, Estes co-founded (along with Theo Witsell, Little Rock, AR) and serves as the executive director of the Southeastern Grasslands Initiative. In the past several years he has helped secure more than $1 million dollars in funding, including grants from the National Science Foundation. In addition to that role, Estes serves as a full professor of biology at Austin Peay State University, principal investigator for the Center of Excellence for Field Biology, and Curator of the Austin Peay herbarium, a plant museum with 120,000 specimens.

“Tennessee Wildlife Federation is proud to honor the tireless work of our award winners as examples for others to follow,” said Butler.

The ceremony was emceed by WSM and Grand Ole Opry personality, Bill Cody. Cody presented each award, which span from Youth Conservationist and Conservation Educator to Land Conservationist and the lifetime achievement Z. Cartter Patten Award.

The honorees of the 53rd Annual Conservation Achievement Awards are as follows:

• J. Clark Akers, III. Award for years of service to the Federation – Andrea Waitt Carlton of Nashville, Tenn.
• Z. Cartter Patten Award for lifetime achievement in conservation – Don Barger of Knoxville, Tenn.
• Conservationist of the Year – Dr. Dwayne Estes of Clarksville, Tenn.
• Chairman’s Award – Nicole Wood of Bonne Terre, Mo.
• Conservation Legislator of the Year – Representative Charles Sargent of Franklin, Tenn.
• Land Conservationist of the Year – Christie Peterson Henderson of Ashland City, Tenn.
• Water Conservationists of the Year – Joyce Coombs of Corryton, Tenn.
• Forest Conservationist of the Year – Tennessee Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation based in Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Wildlife Conservationist of the Year – Charlie Chmielewski of Lenoir, Tenn.
• Conservation Organization of the Year – Wolf River Conservancy based in Memphis, Tenn.
• Conservation Educator of the Year – Ron Blair of Middleton, Tenn.
• Conservation Communicator of the Year – Mark Pace of Chattanooga, Tenn.
• Youth Conservationist of the Year – Alexis Valentine of Gatlinburg, Tenn.
• Hunter Education Instructor of the Year – Terry Gardner of Humboldt, Tenn.
• On Target Award for outstanding support of the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program – Brian Weas of Dunlap, Tenn.
• Dan & Cherie Hammond Sharing the Harvest Award for outstanding support of Hunters for the Hungry – Representative Jimmy Eldridge, of Jackson, Tenn.