Turkeys for Tomorrow (TFT) is proud to announce the addition of two key team members. Frank Bacon signs on as the assistant director of outreach, and Shannon McNally is the new programs administrative assistant. Both have a passion for the outdoors, turkey hunting, and most importantly — wild turkey conservation.
Meet Frank Bacon
Frank Bacon, the new assistant director of outreach, grew up in western Kentucky. He knows the Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley area well, including the lands and game animals of the region. Plus, he is a lifelong waterfowl and turkey hunter. Crappie fishing and call collecting are hobbies, too. Today, he spends his winters in Arkansas as a waterfowl guide at Lagrue Land and Irrigation Company.
He joins TFT after retiring from the Kentucky Department of Transportation.
"I had a 34-year career with the Kentucky Department of Transportation as a construction inspector," Bacon said. "I wrapped that up about three years ago and have been retired from there since.
"I'm a lifelong outdoorsman centered on wild turkeys and waterfowl," Bacon continued. "I have worked with various outdoor companies throughout the years, and I'm still affiliated with Rich-N-Tone Duck Calls, Knight & Hale, and Avery Outdoors (now Banded). Furthermore, he's guided for waterfowl all over the country, and in Canada."
With this extensive background in the outdoor industry, experience from his career with the state of Kentucky, and a firm belief in wild turkey conservation, this positions him for success with TFT.
"It's about furthering the TFT message, and establishing new flocks," Bacon said. "I'm here to serve TFT flocks and push the mission forward."
Bacon will be working directly with flocks in Kentucky, Tennessee, Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois, Southern Indiana, and more. He's excited to work with flock presidents and members throughout these regions.
Meet Shannon McNally
Shannon McNally hails from west-central Georgia. She grew up fishing and exploring the outdoors. Since then, she has developed a deep respect for the wild turkey and the conservation work needed to protect them. Without question, McNally treasures the tradition, community, and stewardship that define the turkey hunting culture.
Like Bacon, McNally expresses her excitement in helping elevate TFT and the wild turkey. She graduated from college in 2023. With a background in business administration, she has experience in this role. Furthermore, she has a significant love for wild turkeys.
"I have a passion for hunting and the outdoors," McNally said. "I really have an interest in this organization. It's about the ability to make a difference and conduct the research needed to ensure that we have turkeys for tomorrow."
Obviously, TFT's mission is to conserve the wild turkey, and it's doing much on the research front to help accomplish that. As McNally stated, she's proud to be assisting with that mission.
"I'm hoping to contribute to the effort by making sure the wheels keep moving," she said. "I'm able to provide that extra bandwidth so that our mission can move forward.
"That means a lot to me," she continued. "I have been lucky to be around people who care about the resource, care about conservation, and make sure that the habitat is there. That's even better than harvesting them."
- Josh Honeycutt
Support TFT
Wild turkey populations are on the decline throughout the nation. Established in 2021, TFT is new to the landscape, but it's driven by highly trained professionals with decades of conservation experience. To support TFT, and the complete body of wild turkey research and conservation it's leading, become a member today. An Adult Annual Membership is $50, multi-year Team Turkey Membership is $250, and Life Membership is $2,500. Every dollar counts in the fight for wild turkey preservation.