National Forest Foundation’s Sporting Clays Invitational Unites Conservationists on Behalf of National Forest Restoration
Bedford Hills, NY –-(Ammoland.com)- The National Forest Foundation’s 17th Annual Sporting Clays Invitational drew more than 300 shooters and guests from across the country who were dedicated to raising funds to restore America’s 193-million-acre National Forest System.
The May 6-7 event was sponsored by Remington Outdoor Foundation, an organization committed to conservation and providing public land access for the millions of Americans who hunt and enjoy the outdoors.
Several dignitaries and celebrities attended the event including television journalist and author Tom Brokaw, who served as guest speaker for the opening reception at the GlenArbor Golf Club in Bedford Hills, N.Y. He shared how his South Dakota boyhood developed his appreciation for America’s national forests and why giving back to this resource is so important.
Attendees also were treated to a shotgun shooting demonstration by Staff Sgt. Josh Richmond and Staff Sgt. Mark Weeks, both with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning, Ga. Staff Sgt. Richmond is the current world champion in men’s double trap. Staff Sgt. Weeks is a four-time member of the World Championship team and former USA Shooting National Shotgun Team coach.
The event also featured an opportunity for 158 shooters to vie for the honor of being top gun at Dover Furnace Shooting Grounds. The Dover Plains, N.Y., course features 20 stations located along a two-mile path that winds through hardwood forests and wetland areas.
The winning team for the event was Ten Mile River Preserve with second place going to Vertrue, LLC., and Verizon Business claiming third. The event’s top gun was Al Gaynor while Stephanie Steinkraus was runner up. Chris Sutter won the Betteridge Rolex Challenge by running a challenging 10-clay station.
Through sponsorships, donations, live and silent auctions, the event generated more than $300,000 in support of the NFF’s mission to engage communities in conserving and improving National Forests and Grasslands.
“Over the course of two days, we experienced an amazing level of camaraderie and generosity on behalf of our country’s great public lands,” said NFF President Bill Possiel. “Thanks to our partner, the Remington Outdoor Foundation, as well as dozens of other sponsors and donors, the Sporting Clays Invitational continues to provide a fun yet meaningful way for people to learn more about our National Forests and help perpetuate them for future generations.”
For more information about the event, contact: Jennifer Schoonen at jschoonen@nationalforests.org or call 406-830-3354.
About National Forest FoundationNational Forest Foundation
Founded by Congress in 1991, the National Forest Foundation works to conserve, restore and enhance America’s 193-million-acre National Forest System. Through community-based strategies and public-private partnerships, the NFF enhances wildlife habitat, revitalizes wildfire-damaged landscapes, restores watersheds, and improves recreational resources for the benefit of all Americans. The NFF’s Treasured Landscapes, Unforgettable Experiences national conservation campaign is uniting public and private partners to conduct large-scale forest and watershed restoration and revitalize ecosystem resiliency in iconic National Forest System sites around the nation. To learn more, visit us at www.nationalforests.org.
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