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| FishTails |
Fourth annual Governor's Wild Turkey and Bass Challenge
another successful event for the West Virginia BASS Federation
[May 17, 2004 - By Jim Matuga]
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| Governors Youth Challenge participant Sarah Dunaway with one of the
many largemouth bass she landed on Stonewall Jackson Lake. |
Stonewall Jackson Lake, W.Va. - Gov. Bob Wise sent along his congratulations and best wishes to the winners of
the fourth annual Governor's Wild Turkey and Bass Challenge essay contest friday. The Challenge, held May 13-15
at Flatwoods in Braxton County and Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park in Lewis County, is a major activity in Wise's
Youth in the Outdoors program, which includes several other outdoor sporting and educational events each year.
The 10 essay winners were chosen to travel to Flatwoods for instruction from wildlife biologists about wildlife
management, trapping turkey for research, fish population surveys, wildlife ecology and other educational subjects
relating to the outdoors. The event culminated with the winners participating in a spring gobbler hunt with guides
provided by the West Virginia Wild Turkey Federation on Friday morning and a bass fishing trip on Stonewall Jackson
Lake State Park on Friday afternoon with guides and boats generously provided by members of the West Virginia B.A.S.S.
Federation.
"More than 170 essays were received this year with the theme: What can I as an individual do to protect our
hunting and fishing heritage?," Wise said. "Nearly every essay included references to the role hunting
and fishing play in family bonding. That's an important part of West Virginia heritage that we encourage through
the Youth in the Outdoors program."
Ed Hamrick, Director of the Division of Natural Resources was on hand to present the awards to all ten winners
at the barbeque cook out following the bass fishing trip which featured the DNR's "famous chicken on the grill."
The Governor's Wild Turkey and Bass Challenge is sponsored by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources,
the West Virginia Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the West Virginia Division of Tourism, Flatwoods
Days Inn, WV B.A.S.S. Federation, and Mossy Oak.
The winners of the essay contest were:
· Russell James, age 10, Wellsburg, Brooke County
· Jacob Kissella, age 14, Lumberport, Harrison County
· Gregory Jarvis, age 16, Barrackville, Marion County
· Lace Shaw, age 14, Ridgeley, Mineral County
· Lindsey Propst, age 13, Franklin, Pendleton County
· Hanna Weaver, age 13, Franklin, Pendleton County
· Sarah Dunaway, age 11, Thornton, Preston County
· Daniel Helmick, age 14, Buckhannon, Upshur County
· Ashley Reeves, age 13, Wayne, Wayne County
· Katie Powell, age 13, Wood County
This year's West Virginia BASS Federation Guides were:
Henry Chisolm
Mike Gillespie
Jim Summers
John Burdette
Kevin Goff
Dion Bright
Sarge Travis
Shelly Perry
Steve Jackson
Bert Nolan
Paul Isner
Jim Matuga
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| WV DNR Biologist Kevin Yokum explains the fundamentals of fisheries
management to the essay winners Friday on Stonewall Jackson. |
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| WVDNR officer and WVBF Member Kevin Goff demonstrates boating tips
to the Youth Challenge participants as part of his Thursday evening seminar on bass fishing. |
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| WV DNR Biologist Kevin Yokum explains the fundamentals of fisheries
management to the essay winners Friday on Stonewall Jackson. |
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