EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation strongly supports Secretary Sonny Purdue's announcement of Tony Tooke as the new chief of the USDA Forest Service.

"Tony is a phenomenal choice for chief of the Forest Service," said NWTF CEO Becky Humphries. "As someone who has dedicated a career to working for our public lands, he understands the importance of the Forest Service and truly values its partners and the role of active forest management."

Took has worked for the Forest Service since age 18, and is currently the regional forester for the Southern Region. He is responsible for 3,100 employees, an annual budget of more than $400 million, 14 national forests and two managed areas covering more than 13.3 million acres across 13 states and Puerto Rico.

Tooke grew up on a small 200-acre farm in Alabama and earned a bachelor's degree in Forestry from Mississippi State University. He was in the Forest Service's inaugural class of the Senior Leadership Program, and he has completed the Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program.

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About the National Wild Turkey Federation
When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.5 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters' rights. Today, the NWTF is focused on the future of hunting and conservation through its Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative – a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to conserve or enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting. For more information, visit NWTF.org.

National Wild Turkey Federation
770 Augusta Rd., Edgefield, SC 29824

For more information, contact Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698