The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation Commission recently honored longtime conservation leader Ken Babcock for his lifetime of service to the outdoors. At a special ceremony held on September 12, 2025 at the Stoney Creek Hotel in Columbia, Babcock was inducted into the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors in Missouri conservation.
Babcock’s career has spanned decades and left a lasting mark on Missouri’s fish, forests and wildlife. After beginning as a waterfowl biologist with the Mississippi Game and Fish Commission, he joined MDC in 1970 and excelled in roles including research scientist, assistant wildlife division chief and ultimately assistant director. During his 27-year career with the Department, he helped lead initiatives that integrated science with public enjoyment of Missouri’s natural resources, expanded partnerships with agencies and landowners and guided implementation of the landmark 1976 Design for Conservation.
“Ken Babcock’s legacy is defined by many things, but perhaps most notably it is his commitment to collaboration with diverse stakeholders that has ensured long-lasting conservation outcomes and a more enduring conservation ethic among the Missouri public,” said Jason Sumners, Director of the Missouri Department of Conservation. “His lifelong commitment and dedication to stewarding our natural resources make him an exemplary candidate for the Conservation Hall of Fame.”
Among his many achievements, Babcock led Missouri’s planning efforts for the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, oversaw the Department’s transition from lead to non-toxic shot for waterfowl which helped in the recovery of the bald eagle and strengthened statewide wetland conservation. Following his retirement from MDC, Babcock served in regional and national roles with Ducks Unlimited, culminating as Senior Director of Conservation Programs. There he advanced large-scale partnerships such as restoring more than 300,000 acres of bottomland wetlands in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley and protecting portions of the North American Boreal Forest.
Even after a second retirement, Babcock continued his conservation leadership as a member of the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation (MCHF) board where he helped reinvigorate fundraising efforts and supported the creation of the Johnny Morris Institute for Fisheries, Wetlands & Aquatic Systems. In recognition of these efforts, he was named MCHF’s 2024 Champion of Conservation and continues to serve as a trusted advisor.
“Ken has been a driving force at the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation and we would not be where we are today without his leadership” said MCHF Executive Director Tricia Burkhardt. “Ken has been able to help connect the dots where others couldn’t to futher the our mission, grow the Foundation and achieve significant goals. We are incredibly grateful to Ken for his commitment to the Foundation over the years and congratulate him in receiving this much-deserved award.”
Babcock is the 48th person to be inducted into the Missouri Conservation Hall of Fame. His plaque will be displayed at the Runge Conservation Nature Center in Jefferson City, Mo. alongside other conservation leaders who have shaped Missouri’s outdoor legacy. His lifelong commitment to collaboration and stewardship continues to inspire conservationists and ensure a healthier future for Missouri’s natural resources.
