CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Team up with National Wild Turkey Federation

Published on January 4, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS --- The Mississippi RiverKings hockey team will feature the works of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) during the team ‚¬â„¢s game January 22nd, which coincides with the team ‚¬â„¢s "Pack the House" night and activities, including a specially designed, wild turkey hunting-themed, game-worn live jersey auction immediately following the game. The NWTF is a national nonprofit conservation and hunting organization that, along with its volunteers, partners and sponsors, has worked for the conservation of the wild turkey and preservation of hunting heritage.

NWTF volunteers in Mississippi have raised and invested more than $1.5 million in conservation-related projects that have improved approximately 10,000 acres of habitat. Nationally, the NWTF, its partners and sponsors have put more than $331 million toward conservation work and improved more than 15.9 million acres of land.

"The greatest thing about the NWTF is that it is a volunteer-based organization," said Chris Adams, NWTF regional field supervisor for Mississippi and Alabama. "Our members work all year to raise money to improve wildlife habitat and create more opportunities for people to experience the outdoors."

In addition to helping fund habitat improvement projects, volunteers host a variety of events to introduce youth, women and people with disabilities to the outdoors through the NWTF ‚¬â„¢s JAKESuniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship), Women in the Outdoors and Wheelin ‚¬â„¢ Sportsmen outreach programs.

"Most attendees at these events have never experienced the outdoors, and to see them learn skills and grow a passion for hunting, fishing and conservation is very fulfilling," Adams said. "I have one of the greatest jobs in the world because I work with people who are passionate about the NWTF ‚¬â„¢s mission and are always coming up with creative, new ways to support programs that help wildlife and pass along outdoor traditions."

These creative programs include those like the RiverKings fundraiser and public awareness program, in which the NWTF will sell tickets to the January 22nd RiverKings game and can receive up to 60 percent of the proceeds of its sales, depending on the number of tickets sold. Additionally, the NWTF will receive a table at the game, where they can distribute information.

When the NWTF was established in 1973, there were only 1.3 million wild turkeys. Today that number stands at more than 7 million birds throughout North America, and hunting seasons have been established in 49 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. According to many state and federal agencies, the restoration of the wild turkey is arguably the greatest conservation success story in North America ‚¬â„¢s wildlife history.

The NWTF employs a regional biologist who works in Mississippi on projects including restoring longleaf pine, one of the South ‚¬â„¢s most unique ecosystems, through a $1.3 million initiative; providing high-quality oak seedlings to NWTF chapters and landowners at little or no cost through the Operation Oak program; providing wild turkey transport boxes to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks for restoration and research projects within the state; conducting educational events for landowners; and more.

To support the NWTF by purchasing tickets to the RiverKings game on January 22nd, or for more information on conservation or hunting activities with the National Wild Turkey Federation, visit www.nwtf.org or contact Chris Adams at cadams@nwtf.net or 601-656-0834.

The Mississippi RiverKings are supported by their community partners, season ticket holders, fans, and by program-related investments of the Maddox Foundation, an independent private foundation based in Hernando, Miss. To find out more about the RiverKings, call 662-342-1755 or visit www.riverkings.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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