Welcome to the Arkansas Wildlife Podcast, the official podcast of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

We are talking hunting, fishing and conservation with engaging guests and in-depth discussions with game and fish staff.

It's Arkansas wildlife.

The podcast for all things outdoors in the natural state.

Hey, welcome to the Arkansas Wildlife Podcast.

I'm Trey Reed, your host, and I am joined today by Dick Whitman.

He is president of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation now, not the commission, the foundation.

Dick, we got to start every conversation about the foundation with the distinction between the foundation and the commission and how we work together.

So I'll just, set it up for you there.

Yeah, man.

Give me the, First off.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Good to be with you guys, as always.

And, yeah, that's really the number one question we get is, how is the foundation different from the commission?

Like, what do y'all when y'all do?

You're kind of the same.

And, we're not we're separate.

Right?

I mean, we're the Game and Fish Foundation is a, 501 C3 nonprofit.

We were we were established in the early 1980s to help support the mission of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

So it's unique in state government.

You don't see a whole lot of nonprofits with the sole purpose of the support.

But as you well know, the commission is kind of unique in its own right, being state government or a state agency with, as many of the conservation agencies across the country are, separate from, in some ways from the state legislature, you know, with funding and this sort of deal.

Right.

And so that's really when that foundation formed in the early 80s, it was that idea to help with some fundraising efforts.

And so, you know, over the years, that's what we've really concentrate on doing is, is helping fundraise.

But also I think it's, kind of a way to help get the word out about what the agency is doing.

So all of these events that we have and will probably talk about, to me, yes, raising some money, but also an opportunity to get folks from the agency to those events to help talk to the public and talk to our supporters.

That way they can be passionate about the things that the agency is doing and, and want to help support these days, it seems like you pretty much got something about every month of the year, it feels like we are packed.

You know, that summertime is usually geared towards Hall of Fame because, like you said, we'll have, we'll have 15, 1600 people.

Feels bigger than that.

Honestly.

In the room that comes up on the stage is the MC of that event.

It looks like a lot more people than that to me as well.

So, you know, and getting that done, I mean, gosh, that's 165 tables that we set ten top tables for me and that's 84,000ft².

At the Statehouse Convention Center.

It's the 35th year of the outdoor Hall of Fame banquet.

And I just refer to it as our bell cow fundraiser.

I mean, we've got different events across the state.

This is one that we all come together as a board, come together as an agency to help not only, celebrate the conservation champions, which we'll talk about here in a second, who are going to, honor this year, but also to tell the good news about the commission and and give the director an opportunity to address the crowd.

And, yeah, we'll raise a little almost like a state of the union from the director every year.

Yeah.

I mean, it's.

And you see, people try at this event each year that just old friends get together again.

They may not have seen each other since the last outdoor Hall of Fame.

That's what kind of an old homecoming for, you know, folks who are passionate about what it really is.

And I think you hit the nail on the head.

It's sort of the timing of it.

Before dove season, you know, the, archery, deer hunting, everything starting to kick off in September.

People were getting started hunting seasons.

And so it's really the timing is is great as people come in and they're getting excited.

Looking ahead to hunting season, like you said, everybody just gets together and it's a celebration of of what we do in the name of conservation here in Arkansas.

Yeah.

But tell me about some of the other events.

So you got some up and you got a couple up in Northwest Arkansas now?

Yeah.

Into the wild, into the wilds, a really fun event.

We do that in the in May each year.

It's in an airplane hangar, and we clear the planes out and just kind of throw a big party in there.

Yeah, the same thing.

Raffles and silent auction items.

And, folks in northwest of, really are generous and comes to support.

We've been doing that one for eight years now.

We followed up with an additional event up in Benton County, you know, Washington and Benton County.

You can't just have one up there is growing so big.

We've got to have support.

You know, there's folks here.

So now we've got one in, up in Benton County.

We do that at at Legacy Ranch, which is a beautiful facility outside of Gravett.

That one's a little more.

We have a, like, a plated dinner, which is a little different than some of our others.

And, but it's really nice.

We bring a great program, talk about conservation up there and Northwest Arkansas and just a really unique part of the state.

And is the growth, in the economic development of the of that part of the state continues to grow.

And then where does that intersection with conservation?

And so, yeah, that we always have some great discussions about that.

We're going to talk a little bit later about a really cool legacy that, one, citizen of, of Benton County, northwest Arkansas, has, is leaving through a donation to the foundation.

So that'll be our little cliffhanger tease we're talking about a little bit later on.

But, let's, let's let's get back to the Hall of Fame.

That's the big one.

Who who, are we honoring?

Okay, this year, I'm not going to look at my cheat sheet here because I know these these names pretty well now after doing this, and we're excited about it.

So, there's a man named Mike Sullivan who, many of your viewers may know from, his work in conservation.

He was the, Arkansas state conservationist.

Did you know there was such a position up?

It's through.

I'm not sure that I did in answer yes, which is part of USDA, but natural resources conservation.

So.

Right.

So Mike's role there was to I mean, at the end of the day, he was helping get, funding for conservation, for the state and works with many different agencies and a lot of times with game and fish.

But, we're talking like millions and millions and millions of dollars that Mike was able to help secure for Arkansas.

And, the one of the nominees, excuse me, one of the submissions said if Mike was not a part of, going to bat for Arkansas, there's no telling how many different projects across the state would not have been funded.

Yeah, were it not for Mike.

I mean, he just knew the ins and outs and making connections and contacts.

It's important, man.

I mean, it takes money to do these conservation work.

Oh, sure.

Mike instrumental especially in water conservation with some of the big prize water plan helped and and championed that and lots of other.

So we're really excited about Mike.

He's a great dude and, he's pretty pumped about it too.

Totally surprise.

I love it when we go to Tim.

Yeah, you told me I took him to lunch, right?

And he had no idea.

He probably was like, oh, here, these guys are going to come pick my brain about something that they're trying to do funding wise.

And, which we actually did, but said, oh, by the way, we want to let you know you've been nominated for the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame.

So that was cool.

Very cool, very cool.

All right.

So Mike's that's Mike story.

The next guy I'm trying to think you I should say next I'll go with, with Pat fits.

Yeah.

You know, I mean, we all former director, human director passed away last year.

Pat was just an awesome guy, man.

I mean, he, his story of of, starting at the game and fish commission mo the levees at the Lone Oak Fish Hatchery in high school.

Went to Arkansas, got his degree, and, wildlife management came back in the game and Fish Commission was the only place he was really ever employed.

Yeah, he worked his way up through the ranks, switched from fisheries to enforcement about, what, 10 or 12 years into his career or something like that.

So, biologist by trade, ghost enforcement.

He was down in Ashley County for, for the better part of his career in enforcement and then works his works, his ways up the ranks, and enforcement to become the colonel.

That's about when I came on in 2016, he was colonel of enforcement.

And then, a few years later, he was named the director of the agency and really guided the agency through some tough times.

Pre-COVID, maybe.

Well, actually, during Covid.

Yeah.

I remember meeting up with Pat, as the offices shut down and everything, you know, nobody knew, like, what's happening next.

And, social distancing at a local park in little Rock to shoot a little video message with him to let folks know.

So, yeah, he was really in the midst of all that.

And, you know, getting back how many folks can say they started, you know, pushing a lawnmower on the levees, in high school and then came all the way to the, you know, to be the director of the agency.

He just lived incredible story.

Breathed it.

I mean, that this was just his absolute passion.

What was this agency?

I mean, is his family, of course.

And, his faith.

But, man, he was just a just super guy.

Good, good dude.

So anyway, we're really excited to to recognize him and Miss Alice and the family will all be there.

And so they're excited about it too.

Okay, so got Mike.

We got Pat.

And then I know this.

You know the guy that year.

This guy we love Mark them all.

But this guy I'm really close love Mark Hendrick man I mean Mark is, is, one of these guys who I met right when I started, who just was an instant friend.

I mean, he's just that way.

He's got he's got ideas.

He wants to be a part of the solution.

He's so big into, he's.

Oh, they never, never not have an idea.

He's always got something he's ready to like.

Let's let's peel the layers back on this and figure out how to do this.

No, he just definitely he's just the consummate cheerleader of how I describe him for the agency.

I mean, I'm talking like when when we're going into some, public meetings on fish, regulations maybe coming up or Lake Conway or whatever it is.

I mean, Mark is always there to help support and, kind of give his, you know, help support the, the folks that are making those decisions that help and tell their story in a way that he can.

He's such a great communicator, as you know.

I mean, yeah, well, full disclosure, he and I do a little radio show together outside of this podcast and outside of my duties at Arkansas Game and Fish, the wild side on 1037 the bus.

So it's hard, you know, in that and in that spirit really to pin mark on the on what he's brought.

But it's just there.

He just has this sense that that Mark's he's always been there.

Not necessarily like, standing at the, you know, out front, but he's always a couple steps back and always pushing things forward.

I think if you ask any of the fishery staff about that, I mean, Martin, he's Mark always has their back and you know that again, that's tough to sort of I don't know put put you know, I mean I I'll give you a great example of I don't know, probably eight, ten, 12 years ago now even we kind of saw a sea change in the way our fisheries division, you know, kind of looked at things like, and I think, I can say this without and I don't I'm not trying to be negative, but I think there was somewhat not the most positive perception of, of, of how we were managing fisheries.

And I think Mark was instrumental in sort of bringing commissioners, the fisheries leadership, at the time, together with, for lack of a better term, influencers in that space.

I mean, professional anglers, you know, people that that work in the professional circuits and, like, bringing everybody together and like, hey, look, Arkansas Game of Fish is already doing a lot of the things that you're asking them to do.

We just need to have conversations and make you aware of that.

And like, what else do you want?

How else can we have these conversations and take things and and we've left out probably one of the biggest things I agree I one of the kind of saved that for last because I'll let you I'll let you throw it out.

Well, it's just that, you know, Mark again, I thought when I started, like, I don't know, day two called me, I got an idea like, yeah, is this dude?

Well, here's his idea was to have a high school, fishing tournament that would essentially be the championship fishing tournament in the state of Arkansas.

Yeah.

And, man, I was like, Mr.

Hedrick, that's a great idea, sir.

I'm not.

I barely know what I'm Arkansas Gaming Fish Foundation is like, and I run a bass tournament before.

How can I do that?

And so it's a couple of years.

I mean, he kept he kept kind of hounding me a little bit, but I'm telling you, the, Commissioner's Cup, fishing tournament we have on Lake Hamilton each year.

It's an annual event.

We have hundreds of kids that participate in it each year.

Give scholarships away.

The fishing industry comes out of the woodwork to help with prizes.

And, it is the, to me, the high school fishing championship.

Absolutely.

And then there's junior high, level that participates as well.

But the kids are going for the, the cup that sits in the lobby of the commission and has the names inscribed on the side of it, the, scholarships that come with it's just turned into a premier fishing tournament, and it's it's due to Mark Headrick.

So.

Yeah.

Anyway, I not we're going to recognize Mark for his.

We're talking about, you were talking about, Mike and, surprising him.

I thought we really.

We.

Oh, man.

We surprised Mark live on, on the wild side, a couple months ago now, but, that was a lot of fun.

You and I had sort of worked out our our delivery, our spiel, and, he had no idea what was coming.

You went through all the inductees, and he was just kind of dumbfounded.

He was at a loss for words, which is not something no you can say about Kendrick very often.

You're right.

He so he's really excited about it.

And he should be so happy to honor Mark, Mike and Pat for their accomplishments.

And, I would you also Steve Smith's Spirit of Giving award.

And before we get into that particular award, I want you to explain to our listeners, who Steve Smith was and the importance of him to the foundation, to the relationship with the Commission and to this spirit of giving that that you, honor him by attaching his name.

So, like I said, in the 80s, when the foundation was formed, it was there was nobody on staff.

I mean, it was sort of it was a board led group.

And that may have been even into trade.

The, I don't know, 91, 92 somewhere in there where, where Steve was a board member, I believe.

And then they, they ended up hiring him on staff as the, as the first president of the foundation.

And so it's kind of a one man show.

And then it grew from there a little bit.

Yeah.

And I mean, Steve was part of the organization for 25 plus years.

Right.

And so a few years ago we decided to, have an award named after Steve.

In the spirit of giving that just summed up what Steve's passion was about, about the foundation, about giving back.

And so, come off before you mention that, I want to like for folks who may not understand the impact if you've ever gone to, the cooks like potlatch conservation.

Well, now it's nature center now, but, or Crooked Creek, the nature center up there and Yale ville that that's a direct impact of Steve Smith working with people, playing, giving and, to create some facilities that are enjoyed by all our.

Can he really set?

And those are just two little examples.

That's right.

You know, there's a lot more to Steve, really.

We stand on, you know, they stay sane on the shoulder of giants.

I mean, I certainly do with with what Steve accomplished in his tenure as president, how he formed a board of passionate supporters across the state.

And his legacy carries on, today and up at the foundation.

So anyway, we wanted to name an award after him.

Just another way to honor legacy.

And this year we are going to, present that to the Arkansas Waterfowl Association.

That's a nonprofit group that's based out on loan, Oak Arkansas, that, it's just an awesome organization.

They, have summer camps for kids, introducing them to the outdoors.

They do mentor icons.

They do, mentored fishing.

It's a member base group.

They've got a wonderful clubhouse over there.

And, there's a great group of guys.

And so I think that's cool for us to try to highlight another.

It's typically nonprofit or or conservation partner that we just try to shine, some good light on.

And hopefully people will get to know that group and help support them also.

Absolutely.

Well, it's going to be a great event once again.

August 29th at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown little Rock.

I think we typically what opened the doors about 6:00 o'clock and usually we're done by about 830, 9:00.

But it's a great event.

You get in from, you get, you know, fried chicken and catfish and all the, all the, sides that go with that.

And again, you get to learn a lot about what's going on at the Foundation as well as the commission.

Yeah, awesome silent auction.

And you can participate in that even without, attending the other side.

We'd love to see you at the event.

Nonetheless.

That's true.

The silent auction is all online.

So we did that actually, pre-COVID, we we sort of trans transform transformed or.

Yeah.

Yeah.

What do we do?

So you remember you used to have to walk up with the silent auction item, right?

You have piece of paper.

And then you've watched Trey walk over there and outbid you.

That's right.

Now it's all online.

It's all on your phone.

So yeah, it's a lot of fun.

Well, I was recently in preparation.

I was looking at some of the items, yesterday, and as always, a lot of, a lot of great stuff and art and trips and experiences, you know, birding trips, always a big one there, but a lot, lots of lots of great stuff that helps support the foundation.

So I want to use that as like talking about how you raise this money, through the foundation.

Well, let's talk about some of the ways that that is actually going into conservation education, in Arkansas, because there's a couple of events I know that you've supported, one of those being, the Generation Conservation, Summer summit.

That's good.

The first one last year in November at, the, Hot Springs Convention Center and basically bringing, kids from around the state, I mean, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of kids to learn about conservation, but also to compete and different disciplines.

Everything from, a game warden challenge, you know, or some, some physical activity and, using, our VHF radio equipment, telemetry equipment to track.

We're not usually we're not actually tracking animals, but tracking the trackers.

Debate, get past in competition for 22 of those competitions and each one of those representing a, a division across game and fish.

Yeah.

That's right.

Yeah.

So, but we kind of in communications even had one, we had like a, a magazine article and a photography and video video contest.

So, anyway, showing these kids, you know, professions in, in this space that's going to enter one day, you know, through a GfK education division, putting that seminar and bringing kids from across the state to come compete.

But it's a way for, a young person to experience or to get to know game and fish it.

And so, they may not have done that otherwise.

I mean, I was sort of brought up my grandfather, my dad taking me duck hunting.

Take me fishing.

Get.

No, you know, you know, getting to know the outdoor spaces.

And in Arkansas, whereas there are kids that come to these event to the summit now and they may not have ever done so.

So it's so cool to have somebody competing in that, debate competition.

Right?

Yeah.

Where they, they understand what the what's the matter of hand or what what's the subject.

But they may not have ever actually gone out and done it.

So we're hoping to to do lots of things.

And one of those is to inspire some young people to get in to the outdoors and see what Game of Fish is all about.

But, that's an example of, of some of these outward facing programing, initiatives that the agency does to which the foundation can come and help support.

So we'll get we'll get sponsors of each one of those competitions.

We'll try to underwrite, you know, some things that the agency may not be able to do in order to enhance the inside, enhance the event, and make it really special for those kids.

Shifting gears a little bit, another program we've talked a lot about here on the podcast, the Legacy Locker Program Foundation, also instrumental, as you mentioned, lining up sponsorships, getting that, corporate support, you know, yeah, Game and Fish has a budget.

And yes, we, we spend money on these things, but sometimes like, you know, might need a little bit more.

Yeah.

And and that's where the foundation comes in.

And I know you're very excited about, taking on one more event.

Yeah, man.

The legacy locker banquet coming up in October this year.

I just think with the Legacy Locker program, it's one of the most, there's just so much good that's come out of it.

I know for years, bass anglers and folks, as we sort of talked about it in that community of have really been asking the agency to step up and and try to make Arkansas, one of the premier destinations for bass fishing.

You know, we hear about, these tournament anglers who travel across the state, you know, to go over to Tennessee or to Alabama or maybe the other way to Texas.

And, I think with legacy longer, it's going to put Arkansas.

But back on the map as far as bass fishing goes.

And then and we have a have played an incredible historical role.

And we're talking about that really starting with Ray Scott's very first tournament, the All-American in 1967 on Beaver Lake and so many, you know, forest Wood Ranger boats.

Jerry McInnis, Jim, and, you know, the the, the tendrils of bass fishing.

You're really running deep in Arkansas.

Yeah.

So with the legacy local program, they were going to to have they the fisheries division was going to work.

They had already plan on having a dinner to recognize the winners.

Right.

Excuse me.

The the people that they donated, the anglers that donated the 10 pound or larger bass during a three month donation.

You know, here I am fundraiser.

I was like, man, why don't we turn that into like a true fundraising event?

Like, not not just the dollars which would be earmarked to go right back to that program, but really to celebrate bass fishing.

And sure, I mean, we do that with some other events that are around duck hunting and, and some others that we do, but why not just double down?

I mean, heck, I say the bass is right there, front and center on our logo.

We need to celebrate what we have in the state for bass fishing.

And so anyway, this event is coming up on October 29th.

It'll be in downtown North Little Rock to the new, the special event center.

Yeah, next to the arena downtown.

We are working on getting tickets and tables and sponsorships and all of those things.

Details to come, right.

Details to come on.

But, I mean, I just think what a great night again, to celebrate the the anglers bass fishing in Arkansas, one of those anglers that were there, 18 that caught 19 fish says one got caught two I think so, yeah.

Anyway, all of these anglers are in the running to, to, win an express bass boat, SB 21, like $75,000, $1,000 boat.

So from Express and Hot Springs, right?

Yeah.

So not only will tell the story about the success of this first year of legacy Hunter but then do the boat drawing and to me just add people and and get some folks to support it.

And we can raise money to go right back into this program.

So there's so many things to talk about.

But before we run out of time, I want to talk about one other thing.

I had the opportunity to come up in Northwest Arkansas with you a few months ago and document this and not event, but, I mean, it was basically a contract signing.

Yeah.

You know, playing to giving is something that that, you really, you know, talk a lot about, like, you know, maybe somebody wants to, include the foundation and, and in their will, you know, and how their legacy can keep on giving after they're gone.

And we have a great example of that.

And mister Arthur Henderson, who I don't well, you know, you know me.

Well, tell me the story.

I just think it's this is such a cool story.

First of all, Arthur Henderson is, cattle farmer up in northwest Arkansas.

Yeah, right by the, ixnay the high for the airport, which was, you know, out in the.

Because there was nothing there.

When I started going to that airport 25 years ago.

He was he was a cattle farm.

Right.

And you go by now and that's this property, 150 acres of smack dab in the middle of northwest Arkansas.

I was introduced to Mr.

Henderson by a game warden, David Treat.

And David and Arthur became friends over the years.

And Arthur doesn't have, he doesn't have any heirs.

And he he saw what was the development going on around his property.

You know, again, that's good for economic development.

Northwest Arkansas.

And I was like, we got to strike a balance.

You know, Arthur had a vision for his property where he wanted to see that remain in, in greenspace.

Yeah.

He wanted it to be green, not the gray of concrete, which is great.

We need we need green spaces in this.

Absolutely.

In the middle.

And so, Trey, I've.

I've even told this to Mr.

Henderson.

If, if your property's 150 acres is in the middle of, you know, rural Arkansas, I don't know what game and fish commission.

It's not big enough for me.

Right.

Because it was it's, abuts to, development.

Probably can't really hunt or, like, what can we do?

Well, we look at the value of having a property in the middle of northwest Arkansas where, where we can take groups out there to, to educate, to have an education.

Not and not just school groups.

So let's think about pollinator or converting what he has in Bermuda grass.

Convert it to warm season grasses for cattle ranchers or farmers just to show them.

Here's a way you can.

There's a creek running through the property.

We can show how we do stream.

Bank stabilization is almost like a demonstration area, as well as a recreational outlet for folks in Northwest Arkansas.

So that was all part of this plan giving.

And, just something that we're starting to really 100.

And how many acres?

150, 150 acres, right in the middle of one of their most rapidly growing areas.

And so not only is that going to be that green space and island of green, probably that someday.

But but also just a place where people can still see what, what you used to.

And that's what Mr.

Henderson's vision is.

That's what he wanted to do.

So we're just so grateful for for him.

And, things can be fantastic.

We'll talk a little bit about Mr.

Henderson going.

Gonna show a little video at the Hall of Fame.

As well as some other cool stuff.

We could we could go on and on here, but I think we are about out of time.

But if you are interested in anything with the Arkansas Gaming Fish Foundation, including the Hall of Fame, go to agf.org agf.org.

You can get tickets to the Hall of Fame, some of these other events as they become available.

Legacy locker tickets are not available for that yet, but they probably will be before two terribly long.

And it is a great organization supporting conservation in Arkansas and the work of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Dick went back.

Thanks so much for everything you do for the foundation, for the Commission and for conservation in Arkansas.

Thanks for being here with us.

Thank you for having me.

Thanks, Trey.

That's all the time we got for this episode.

We'll see you next time on the Arkansas Wildlife Podcast.