October 18 , 2007    

CSF Teams with Richard Childress Racing to Champion Sportsmen’s Issues
Teaming up for a winning event, CSF and famed NASCAR legend Richard Childress celebrated America’s outdoor traditions of hunting and fishing at “Wine, Wheels & Wildlife” at the Childress Vineyards in Lexington, North Carolina.  The event served as a platform to bring two common constituencies together and to underscore the importance for sportsmen to have a voice on the political playing field.

“NASCAR fans are hunters and anglers.  When they are not watching or attending a race, they are outdoors,” Richard Childress said, “It gives me great pleasure to be able to combine three of my favorite passions to champion a worthy cause.  CSF, along with all of the state and federal legislators that are active in sportsmen’s caucuses, has been a true champion in promoting sportsmen’s issues in the political arena.”

Celebrating “Wine, Wheels & Wildlife,” NASCAR, hunting and fishing enthusiasts came from across the country to enjoy an evening of outdoor activities including archery, casting, wildlife calling and skeet shooting.  Legislators from South and North Carolina attended the event, as well as notable leaders from the hunting, fishing and NASCAR community.  Among the who’s who of the racing and outdoor world in attendance were executives from the National Rifle Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Bass Pro, Triton Boats, Grady-White Boats, Realtree, SCI, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, AT&T, Reese’s, Shell Oil, and BB&T.

“Your support tonight has helped NASC and state sportsmen’s caucuses achieve amazing success in just a few short years.  You can rest assured that through the efforts of CSF at the federal level and National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses at the state level the voice of hunters and anglers is loud and clear and policymakers are paying attention,” stated CSF president Jeff Crane, speaking to the attendees. .
 
Richard Childress Joins the CSF Board of Directors
Bringing the same level of enthusiasm and dedication he brings to racing to ensuring the rights of hunters and anglers are well served in the halls of government, Richard Childress has joined the CSF Board of Directors.

"If I wasn't in the racing business, I'd be involved in something where I could be outside all day," commented Richard Childress. "Call me an outdoorsman. I love to hunt and fish but I am also very passionate about the conservation of wildlife and habitat."  Indeed, Childress is as much about giving back to wildlife, hunting and fishing as he is about being a successful business man.  Known for his success in the NASCAR racing world, Childress is also the proprietor of Childress Vineyards in Lexington, N.C., as well as the Yadkin River Angus cattle ranch.
"I like to give back by helping organizations that I know are making a difference in our hunting heritage.  The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation has been the one organization that has stayed focused on the legislative side of ensuring hunting and fishing for today and the future,” noted Childress.  “Hunting, access to land and water and thriving wildlife lies as much in politics as it does in conservation.  I am honored to be able to do my part by serving on the CSF Board.”
 
First Ever Congressional Sportsmen’s Week Highlights the Importance of Hunting and Fishing in America
September 26th through October 3rd, marked the first ever Congressional Sportsmen’s Week in the U.S. Congress, serving as a reminder to legislators of the vital importance of hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation have on  America’s economy, environment, health, and way of life.  The week included passing Congressional resolutions recognizing hunting and fishing and its contributions. Activities included the CSF Annual Banquet and Auction, a briefing on the economic impact of hunting and fishing, the signing of an MOU aimed at strengthening a longstanding partnership for the future of conservation, hunting, shooting and angling in America and a CSF briefing on the National Archery in the Schools Program. “Congressional Sportsmen’s Week showed that the impacts of the sportsmen’s community are too great to be ignored by policymakers in Washington, DC.  My hope is that this week helped to convince more of my colleagues in the House and Senate to make sportsmen’s issues a priority,” commented Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI)
 
U.S. Senate Urged to Provide $6 billion for Conservation in Farm Bill
In a full page ad appearing in Roll Call, the most read newspaper by Members of Congress, CSF along with leading organizations representing hunters, anglers and the outdoor industry, urged the U.S. Senate to build on the $4.5 billion funding approved in the House version of the 2007 Farm Bill by fully funding conservation titles at the $6 billion level.

The ad points out that current levels of funding are not adequate, as 2 out of 3 farmers are turned down when they request funds to support conservation on their land, and 74% of conservation applications go unfunded.
 
Record Breaking Members of Congress Attend CSF Banquet and Auction
Demonstrating their affinity of hunting and fishing, 45 members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus turned out for the 18th Annual CSF Banquet and Auction.  “This event just keeps getting better and better,” noted Tom Baker, Vice-Chairman of the CSF Board.  “When you get this many Members of Congress in a room telling hunting and fishing stories, you know it is going to be a rowdy occasion.”

The CSF Banquet and Auction has become a destination event with the communities top leaders flying into town for the occasion along with board members from many various organizations, including the event’s sponsor, Pheasant’s Forever.  Also in attendance in full force were board members of SCI and the National Wild Turkey Federation, as well as senior executives of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Beretta, Sturm Ruger, Bass Pro Shops, The Sportsmen’s Channel, Versus, and Intermedia Outdoors.
 
NWTF’s Contributions Recognized at CSF Banquet
During a decade-long partnership, the NWTF and its 2,350 chapters have contributed $613,000 to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses, a fact that was recognized during a presentation at CSF’s annual banquet.  “The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is a great partner and a proven force in defeating anti-sportsmen legislation and advancing pro hunting bills,” said Rob Keck, CEO for the NWTF. “Their work with members of the U.S. Congress ensures that sportsmen have a voice at the highest levels of government.”
 
 
Missouri Caucus to Host 2007 Sportsmen’s Legislator Summit
Once again, the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) will be gathering the most dedicated sportsmen legislators, highly recognized authorities from the conservation community, and steadfast partners for the Fourth Annual NASC Sportsman-Legislator Summit.  The theme of this year’s summit is From Crawling, to Walking, Preparing to Run.

From November 27 – 30, the Missouri Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and Bass Pro Shops will roll out the welcome mat to host the event at Big Cedar Lodge outside of Branson, Missouri.  The NASC Annual Summit is the only venue that brings together renowned authorities and experts from across the conservation community, allied industries, and other state sportsmen’s caucuses to work together for sportsmen. 
 
Wild West Show Down on the Water
Legislators from the Okalahoma Sportsmen’s Caucus are challenging their neighbors from the Texas Caucus to a show down on the water. The event, called the Red River Rivalry, sets the stage for a fish off between the Okalahoma and Texas Sportsmen’s Caucuses on Lake Texoma, November 1- 2.  The competition will be all in good fun and beyond the camaraderie built between the legislators, the purpose of the day will be for legislators to learn first hand how legislation and conservation efforts work together to protect and improve fisheries and waterways in Texas and Oklahoma.
 
Arkansas Caucus Gets Wild and Talks Economics
The Arkansas Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a press conference at the state capitol on the participation and economic impact of hunting and fishing in Arkansas.  The press conference was followed by a celebration in the evening with a Wild Game Tasting and Reception. The press conference follows the release of the CSF report: Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy, which focuses on the national economic impact.