EDGEFIELD, S.C. — During a recent South Carolina Forestry Commissioner meeting held at National wild Turkey Federation headquarters, Mandy Harling, director of Hunting Heritage Programs at the NWTF, presented retiring SCFC Director Gene Kodama with a NWTF print.
Under Kodama's leadership, the SCFC has been a key partner for the NWTF earning the Land Stewardship Award in 2011. The award is given for excellence in land management, partnerships and NWTF project support.
"Director Kodama and the SC Forestry Commission have been a great partner of the NWTF," said Becky Humphries, NWTF CEO. "His dedication to our state's forests is unmatched. His presence in the SCFC will be greatly missed but we look forward to working with him in another capacity in the future."
Harling agreed. "Director Kodama has been an integral part in our success – he has been great to work with and was always engaged with staff and hunters," Harling said. "He has not only endorsed our partnership but was part of it by being present at our hunts and events. He's a great person and has been a great friend to the NWTF."
Kodama has worked as a professional forester for 40 years, serving 10 of those years as Forestry Commissioner. A native of Monks Corner, he received both his bachelor's and master's degree from Clemson University. He will officially retire in January 2018.
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.
Contact Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698
