Conservation remains front and center in northwestern Georgia.
Turkeys for Tomorrow (TFT) is excited to spotlight a high school in the northwestern Georgia for its extraordinary efforts to share the wild turkey legacy and custom call-making heritage. Chuck Williams is the agriculture and FFA advisor at Gordon Lee High School in Chickamauga, Georgia. He is working with students on conservation project education, and hands-on experience with how to make turkey calls.
"For the past year, I've seen the craftsmanship that went into turkey call-making," Williams said. "I talked to the school about buying some wood lathes, drill presses, and other things like that for the students."
Will all of these students start a call-making business? No. But Williams says it was a way to introduce the woodworking process. Perhaps that leads to a future in cabinetmaking, carpentry, or something else like that.
"They learn the skill of working with their hands," he said. "Of course, you know, I always try to throw in conservation, because it is very important that we preserve our lifestyle, our legacy, and leave something behind. This is just a wonderful way that we have been able to do that."
Incredibly, the response from students has exceeded expectations. They are learning the concepts, loving the work, and enjoying conservation topics.
"It's been phenomenal," Williams said. "They've really embraced it. I have 19 students in this ag leadership class, and every student makes a call. There is a lot of trial and error and learning how to do stuff. But they're getting to use their hands, implement measurements, and determine how to apply skills learned in other classes."
TFT acknowledges this great effort, and commends Williams and Gordon Lee High School in Chickamauga, Georgia, for their effort to raise conservation awareness.
"All of our basic ag class students complete their hunter's education course," Williams said. "That's our contribution to conservation."
"Turkey hunting is a passion of mine, and so, I try to grow the students interest in it," Williams said. "It's amazing when you take a student who's not a turkey hunter — or anything like that — and then suddenly, they've taken a block of 4-by-4-inch-thick wood, turned it down, and put a piece of poplar and slate over the top. Suddenly, they're making a turkey sound, and their eyes light up. It's something they're proud of and to show their parents."
Hopefully, one day sooner than later, they'll reflect on this and think of conservation. They'll think of turkeys for tomorrow.
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