The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) is proud to announce a new partnership with acclaimed singer-songwriter, fiddle player, producer, outdoor television host, and conservation advocate Nick Hoffman, who joins the organization as its newest ambassador.
"The Wild Sheep family is exactly what the name suggests—a family," said Gray N. Thornton, President and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. "We're a community of hunter-conservationists united by a passion for wild sheep and the landscapes they inhabit. Nick entertained our members at this year's Life Member Breakfast during the Sheep Show® and received a standing ovation. Since then, we've had the opportunity to get to know him better, and it quickly became clear that formalizing this partnership was a natural fit."
Sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts know Hoffman through both his country music career and his award-winning Outdoor Channel series, Nick's Wild Ride. Premiering in 2017, the show earned an Outdoor Sportsman Award nomination for Best New Show and won three Telly Awards, including honors in Travel/Tourism and Public Service/Activism. The following year, the series received four Outdoor Sportsman Award nominations, including Best Overall Production, and captured the award for Best Conservation.
"The Wild Sheep Foundation represents everything I love about hunting and conservation—passion, purpose, and people willing to do the work," said Hoffman. "Wild sheep are one of North America's greatest conservation success stories, and I'm honored to support the Foundation's mission to put and keep wild sheep on the mountain. I look forward to helping share that story with hunters and conservationists across the country."
"Nick's one busy guy," Thornton added. "His enthusiasm for hunting, conservation, and the work we do for wild sheep is contagious. He connects with people in an authentic way and has a remarkable ability to communicate why conservation matters."
Raised in Nowthen, Minnesota, Hoffman grew up in a musical family and began playing the fiddle at age four. His upbringing on a farm also instilled a lifelong passion for the outdoors, where hunting and fishing became integral parts of his life. Pursuing a dream he'd held since childhood, Hoffman left home at 17 to perform in Branson, Missouri, before relocating to Nashville in 2000. Throughout his music career, Hoffman has performed and collaborated with some of country music's biggest names, including Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Trace Adkins, Sara Evans, and Brooks & Dunn. He married singer-songwriter Natalie Murphy in 2016.
Through Nick's Wild Ride, Hoffman travels the globe pursuing unique hunting adventures while immersing viewers in local cultures and conservation stories. The series explores not only the pursuit of game but also the people, places, and wildlife management efforts that sustain hunting traditions and wildlife populations worldwide.
"Nick brings a unique combination of passion, credibility, and communication skills to our mission," Thornton said. "His background in entertainment, storytelling, hunting, and conservation makes him an exceptional ambassador for the Wild Sheep Foundation. We're excited to have him helping share the story of wild sheep conservation and the important work being done by our members and partners."
About the Wild Sheep Foundation: The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), based in Bozeman, Montana, is a leading international conservation organization dedicated to wild sheep and their habitats. Founded in 1977 by sportsmen and conservationists, WSF has invested more than $156 million in conservation efforts worldwide.
Through initiatives focused on habitat enhancement, population restoration, scientific research, education, and advocacy, WSF works to fulfill its mission to "Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®." These efforts have helped restore North American bighorn sheep populations from historic lows of approximately 25,000 in the mid-20th century to more than 85,000 today.
WSF serves a global membership of more than 11,000 supporters and collaborates with partners across North America, Europe, and Asia to ensure a sustainable future for wild sheep. Learn more at www.wildsheepfoundation.org.