National Lewis & Clark Conservation Awards
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.
Save the Date for the 2025 Lewis & Clark Conservation Awards
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Grant’s Farm | 7385 Grant Road, St. Louis, MO 63123
Reception begins at 5:30 p.m. | Dinner & Awards Ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m.
Reservations required, event attire is semi-formal
Registration will open soon. For any questions or inquiries, please contact our office at 800-227-1488.
Honorees Over the Years:
2025 National Lewis & Clark Conservation Awards Honorees:
Corps of Discovery National Conservation Award
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Governor’s State of Missouri Conservation Award
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Pat Jones/York Spirit of the Wilderness Conservation Award
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Sacagawea Community and Partnership Conservation Award
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Missouri Legacy Conservation Award
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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.
Sponsorship
SponsorshipInterested in sponsoring the event in 2025? 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 2025 Lewis & Clark Sponsors
Previous Year Highlights and Awardees
Photos from the 2024 Lewis & Clark Conservation Awards
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)
- Chad Pregracke, Founder and President of Living Lands & Waters (2024)
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)
- James T. Blair IV, Former MDC Commissioner and Moneta Group partner (2024)
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)
- Jeff Churan, Former MDC Commissioner (2024)
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)
- Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund (2024)
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)
- Bruce & Jan Sassmann, Bruce is a Missouri State Representative, both are lifelong Missouri conservationists (2024)
