Emporian finalist for national award

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By Brandy Nance (Contact)

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Phil Taunton, Emporia outdoorsman and columnist, is one of the finalists for the Budweiser Conservationist of the Year award. He volunteers as area coordinator for the Kansas Hunter Education programs.

Phil Taunton has dedicated a large part of his life to hunter education and getting kids outdoors. Because of these efforts, he is up for a national award.

Taunton, who is the volunteer Kansas Hunter Education area coordinator, is a finalist in Budweiser’s Conservationist of the Year award. Taunton has recruited new hunters and participated in 4-H, Quail Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation and FNRA, all of which promote firearm safety education and introduce participants to conservation, outdoor skills, hunter ethics and wildlife appreciation. Taunton also writes a weekly column in the Gazette.

The person voted Conservationist of the Year will receive a $50,000 grant to help fund on-the-ground conservation efforts. Three runners up will receive $5,000.

Taunton, who writes an outdoor column for The Gazette, said he is involved in many youth programs.

“I am scheduled to do a youth hunt this fall, a conservation and wildlife habitat presentation at the Twin Lakes Water Festival, a hunter education booth at Bluestem Farm and Ranch’s Conservation and Wildlife Appreciation Days, a two-day Become an Outdoors Woman event in September and a hunter education class at Camp Alexander in October,” he said.

Taunton’s efforts have earned him other awards as well. In 2002, he was awarded the Kansas Hunter Education Instructor of the Year award and in 2005 he received the Kansas Wildlife Federation’s Conservationist of the Year Award.

“I am just fortunate to have volunteers, sponsors and great organizations to work with to make these programs such a success,” Taunton said. “They truly deserve the nomination more than I do. … The nomination speaks well for all the volunteers and sponsors we have in the Emporia area. My main concern is getting the word out concerning firearm safety along with teaching ethics and responsibility to those using our natural resources.”

Voting is now open on the Web site, www.budweiser.com. To vote, click on the link “Great Outdoors” and find Taunton’s bio located under “Vote for Conservationist of the Year.” Votes also can be mailed to 2009 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year; P.O. Box 750088, El Paso, TX 88575-0088. Your name, address and the name of the candidate you’re voting for should be included on the 3X5 card. The voting deadline is Nov. 30. Persons voting must be 21 years old or older and there is a limit of one vote per person.