To celebrate the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) 25th Anniversary, CSF hosted a reception, in partnership with InterMedia Outdoors, at the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV. CSF took the opportunity to unveil the 25th Anniversary report highlighting CSF’s success and growth since 1989, entitled “Yesterday’s Achievements, Tomorrow’s Aspirations.”
The reception followed a day of discussing our nation’s shooting and hunting future with members of the outdoor industry. Speakers included CSF President Jeff Crane, Chairman of the CSF Board of Directors Bob Model, CSF Board of Directors Vice-Chair Mark DeYoung of ATK, and CSF Board Member Tommy Millner of Cabela’s.
Crane introduced the speakers and CSF story by saying, “At no time in history have we as a community had this kind of ability to access elected officials directly. Our job is to work on behalf of hunting, recreational shooting, angling, trapping, and all the outdoor pursuits that go along with it.”
During the event, Tommy Millner, CEO of Cabela’s, presented a check for $1,000,000, the largest single commitment in CSF’s history, generated through Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, in support of CSF’s mission of protecting and advancing sportsmen’s interests. During the presentation, Millner stated, “About a decade ago, I had the pleasure of getting to know [CSF] and watch the amazing bipartisan work that this organization does. And having been around for a long time, you can’t win on our issues on a partisan basis.”
In addition, DeYoung thanked CSF on behalf of ATK: “CSF has a great ability to influence legislative affairs and legislative initiatives that impact all of us. They impact our industry, our ability to enjoy the outdoors; they impact the lifestyles that we enjoy; they impact our sons and daughters and the next generation.”
CSF’s 25th Anniversary report, “Yesterday’s Achievements, Tomorrow’s Aspirations,” elaborates on the successes achieved working with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses and Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus, to promote and advance policies for sportsmen and women nationwide.
Model acknowledged the need for a sportsmen’s voice in the government, “If it weren’t for CSF and the effort that they make, we wouldn’t have the presence that we have [on Capitol Hill].”
This reception was made possible by our sponsors: ATK, Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Hornady Manufacturing Company, and Sportsman Channel/InterMedia Outdoors.
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?
