On September 11, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) hosted its 30th Annual Banquet & Auction celebrating past and present Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) members and 30 years of protecting and advancing sportsmen’s traditions and fish and wildlife conservation on Capitol Hill and across the country.
Nearly 60 CSC members joined leaders from the sportsmen’s conservation community and representatives from allied industries to celebrate conservation victories over the past year and discuss advancing policies for our hunting and fishing heritage.
Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt addressed the event’s reception as keynote speaker, and discussed the importance conservation priorities have for hunters and anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts.
“I am grateful for the support of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation for the Department of the Interior’s conservation and recreation priorities. CSF is a valued partner, bringing together leaders in the outdoor community and helping advance President Trump’s dynamic vision both for the Department and for American conservation on the whole,” said Secretary Bernhardt.
CSF President Jeff Crane and CSC founding members Reps. Dick Schulze (R-PA) and Lindsay Thomas (D-GA) recognized U.S. House members Congressmen Don Young (AK) and Collin Peterson (MN) as the current longest serving CSC members and thanked them for their years of dedication to the sportsmen’s community while working in Congress.
“Recognizing our longest standing CSC members is truly an honor for me and CSF,” said Jeff Crane, CSF President. “Their passion and dedication to supporting our sportsmen’s community for thirty years has helped to advance many pro-sportsman legislative wins and defeat bills that could have potentially devastated our sporting heritage. I’m grateful for their friendship and continued support and look forward to continuing our fight on behalf of America’s sportsmen and women.”
Prior to the evening’s 30th Anniversary celebration, CSF hosted their annual Sporting Society lunch where CSC member and U.S. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise addressed attendees and all six founding members of the three sportsmen’s caucuses were recognized.
Title Sponsors of the event included Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Hess Corporation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Safari Club International, Vista Outdoor Inc., and Winchester Ammunition. Host Sponsors included Anheuser Busch, BP America, and Hornady Manufacturing Company.
Past and present CSC members at CSF’s 30th Annual Banquet.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
