National Lewis & Clark Conservation Awards Celebration
Each year, the National Lewis & Clark Conservation Awards recognize individuals and organizations that lead the charge for the appreciation and conservation of our natural resources in Missouri and beyond. Recipients of these awards represent leaders in business, philanthropy and conservation.
We’re excited to add a live auction by Auctioneer Billy Long to this year’s Lewis & Clark programming. To learn more about Auctioneer Billy Long and this year’s live auction items, visit our Live Auction page.
Honorees Over the Years:
Photos from the 2024 Lewis & Clark Conservation Awards
2024 National Lewis & Clark Conservation Awards Honorees:
Corps of Discovery National Conservation Award
Chad Pregracke
Governor’s State of Missouri Conservation Award
Jeff Churan
Pat Jones/York Spirit of the Wilderness Conservation Award
James T. Blair IV
Trailblazer Conservation Award
Sara Parker Pauley
Sacagawea Community and Partnership Conservation Award
Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Outdoor Fund
Missouri Legacy Conservation Award
Bruce & Jan Sassmann
About the National Lewis & Clark Conservation Awards
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were explorers, scientists, entrepreneurs, geographers, diplomats and frontrunners of conservation in the United States. They overcame significant obstacles and challenges leading the Corps of Discovery through unforeseen circumstances and difficulties to change America forever. Like these famed explorers, our honorees’ incredible commitment and work have charted a course that others have and will continue to follow.
We are recognizing conservation champions who have impacted conservation across the state, as well as across this country. Having an event of this caliber celebrating these efforts showcases our state’s commitment to protect our beautiful natural environment for generations to come.
Attend the Event
Attend the EventThank you to all who joined us on September 18, 2024! Check back next year for more information on the 2025 Lewis & Clark Conservation Awards.
Sponsorship
SponsorshipInterested in sponsoring the event? Show your support of Missouri conservation and all of the incredible work these awardees have accomplished. Fill out the sponsorship form at the link below, or with questions, contact Andrea Smith at andrea.smith@mochf.org or 417.310.2705.
Thank You to Our 2024 Lewis & Clark Sponsors
Previous Year Highlights and Awardees
Watch highlights from last year’s awards ceremony and event!
Corps of Discovery National Conservation Award:
- Johnny Morris, founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops (2016)
- Professional fishing legends Bill Dance, Roland Martin and Jimmy Houston (2017)
- Tim “Mountain Man” Guraedy from the television series Duck Dynasty (2018)
- Adam LaRoche, retired Major League Baseball first basemen and co-star of Outdoor Channel’s Buck Commander (2019)
- Simon Roosevelt, great, great grandson of Theodore Roosevelt and principal of Olimpia Fund Management (2020 [postponed to May 2021])
- Adam Wainwright, philanthropist and St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher (2021)
- Mark Drury & Terry Drury, brothers, and co-owners of Drury Outdoors (2022)
- Cody Stokes, CEO and founder of Dive Bomb Industries (2023)
Pat Jones/York Spirit of the Wilderness National Conservation Award:
- Pat Jones (Edward Jones) (2016)
- Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (2018)
- Martin MacDonald, retired Bass Pro Shops Conservation Director (2019)
- Penny Pennington, managing partner of Edward Jones (2020 [postponed to May 2021])
- Rudi Roeslein, founder of Roeslein Alternative Energy (2021)
- Carroll Wilkerson, co-founder, and Senior Wealth Advisor at WR Wealth Planner, a financial planning firm in Columbia, Mo. (2022)
- Dr. Grant Woods, creator and host of GrowingDer.tv and President of Woods & Associates (2023)
Governor’s State of Missouri Conservation Award:
- Bill and Becky Ambrose (2016)
- Howard Wood, former Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Commissioner (2018)
- Larry and Brenda Potterfield, MidwayUSA owners (2019)
- Marilynn Bradford, former MDC Commissioner (2020 [postponed to May 2021])
- Barry Orscheln, Missouri Department of Conservation commissioner and chairman and CEO of Orscheln Industries (2021)
- U.S. Sentaor Roy Blunt, Chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee and as the Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee, (2022)
- Chip McGeehan, owner and operator of 19 McDonald’s franchises in southwest Missouri (2023)
Sacagawea Community and Partnership Conservation Award:
- Ducks Unlimited (2016)
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (2017)
- National Wild Turkey Federation (2018)
- Orscheln Farm & Home (2019)
- Missouri Birding Society (2020 [postponed to May 2021])
- Missouri Prairie Foundation (2021)
- The Conservation Federation of Missouri, a nonprofit organization working to better Missouri’s natural resources and represent the state’s citizen conservationists (2022)
- Burns & McDonnell, a company based in Kansas City providing engineering, architecture, construction, environmental and consulting solutions (2023)
Missouri Legacy Conservation Award:
- Glenn Chambers, noted wildlife conservationist, photographer and videographer (2017)
- Brad Jacobs, former MDC ornithologist (2020 [postponed to May 2021])
- Rick and Lotsie Holton, lifelong philanthropists and conservationists (2021)
- Chip and Teresa McGeehan, owners and operators of 19 McDonald’s franchises in southwest Missouri (2022)
- Ken Babcock, a lifetime conservation supporter and leader (2023)
