Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

(CAREFREE) - Arizonans who have helped conserve Arizona's wildlife and outdoor heritage were honored at the 22nd Annual Arizona Game and Fish Commission Awards Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 11.The public was invited to celebrate the accomplishments of the award recipients at the Carefree Resort & Conference Center, 37220 Mule Train Road, Carefree, AZ 85377.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission banquet is an annual event to recognize and honor individuals and organizations for their contributions to the conservation of wildlife, Arizona's outdoor heritage, and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Since 1991, more than 317 awards have been presented by the commission. This year's award winners, selected by the Fish and Game Commissioners at their September meeting, include the following:

• Art Boswell (Award of Excellence);

• Dustin Yinger (Youth Environmentalist of the Year);

• Terry Corrigan (Outdoor Writer of the Year);

• Western Outdoor Times (Media of the Year);

• Arizona Chapter Safari Club International (Conservation Organization of the Year);

• Larry Audsley (Conservationist of the Year);

• Julia Fonseca (Natural Resource Professional of the Year);

• John Kulberg (Volunteer of the Year);

• Tom Brennan (Educator of the Year);

• John Griess (Mentor of the Year);

• Senator Steve Pierce (Advocate of the Year);

• Jim Rich (Buck Appleby Hunter Education Instructor of the Year);

• Anita Waite and Sherwin Koehn (Wildlife Habitat Stewards of the Year); and

• John Hervert (2013 North American Model Commissioner's Award).

All costs associated with the awards banquet are paid for each year by ticket sales and sponsorship donations. More information is available at http://www.azgfd.gov/commissionawards.