Ed Joiner named Hunter Ed Instructor of the Year
Nearly 50 Hunter, Bowhunter and Trapper Education volunteer instructors from across southeast Montana met in Miles City Saturday for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' annual instructor appreciation workshop.
During the workshop, Ed Joiner, Hunter Education instructor in Lame Deer, was named instructor of the year.
Joiner has been teaching Hunter Ed for 21 years, first in Belgrade and later in Lame Deer. Joiner is also a Rosebud County commissioner. His son, Kendell, took Hunter Ed and wanted to become a junior instructor, so he got his father involved.
Kendell wasn't present at the workshop, but he sent a message to be read for his father:
"He's helped and taught hundreds of hunters join the hunting community, and especially on the Northern Cheyenne Nation. Some of my favorite memories of instructing with him on our reservation were when he invited one of the Elders in our community to come present one of the nights, and outline hunting in Cheyenne ways in the past and bring that aspect to learning that those students wouldn't have received if they didn't join that class," Kendell wrote.
Also recognized on Saturday with lifetime achievement awards were Eugene Vennes of Plevna and Gary Huber of Terry. Vennes has taught for 54 years, and Huber for 48 years. Vennes teaches with son Kyle, and Huber teaches with son Greg.
Mark Rose of Fairview was honored for 30 years of service to both the Hunter Ed and Bowhunter Ed programs in Sidney.
Trent Hansen of Glendive and Janice Buck of Baker received 25-year service awards for Hunter Ed.
Cooper Knoll of Glendive earned a 15-year award for teaching Hunter Ed, and Ken Lacquement of Fallon and Travis Lacquement of Terry have devoted 15 years to Bowhunter Ed.
Dale Tribby and Ken Koehler, both of Miles City, got 10-year Hunter Ed awards, and Koehler also served 10 years in Bowhunter Ed.
FWP's Region 7 has more than 100 volunteer instructors for Hunter, Bowhunter and Trapper Education. Many have been sharing their skills and knowledge with students for several years.
If you have an interest in becoming a volunteer in one or more of these programs, please visit:
https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education/volunteer-instructors
Photo cutline: Ed Joiner of Lame Deer, Hunter Education Instructor of the Year for FWP Region 7, stands next to a picture of his son, Kendell, who got him teaching Hunter Ed and sent a congratulatory message for his father's award.