Commission Awards Banquet set for Jan. 16, 2027
PHOENIX— The Arizona Game and Fish Commission announced the recipients of the 2026 Commission Awards at its Sept. 4 meeting in Show Low, Arizona.
The awards recognize Arizonans who have contributed significantly to the conservation of the state's wildlife, its outdoor heritage, and the mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
This year's recipients are:
- Award of Excellence – Mesquite Wildlife Oasis
- Youth Conservationist of the Year – Kai Ellis
- Media of the Year – Steve Ray, KMOG Radio
- Conservation Organization of the Year – White Tank Mountains Conservancy
- Conservationist of the Year – Teri Cline, O Bar C Ranch
- Natural Resource Professional of the Year – Joshua Miller, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests
- Volunteer of the Year – Yavapai County Jeep Posse
- Educator of the Year – Arthur Greenway, Zane Grey Chapter Trout Unlimited
- Mentor of the Year – Bill Larson
- Advocate of the Year - State Senator Frank Carroll
- Business Partner of the Year - Canyon Coolers
- Buck Appleby Hunter Education Instructor of the Year – Valerie Nies
- Wildlife Habitat Steward of the Year – Kathryn "Kit" Metzger, Flying M Ranch
- North American Model Commissioner's Award – Andrew Cavalcant
The awards will be presented at the annual Commission Awards Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2027, at the Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort, Grand Ballroom, 11111 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85020.
The banquet will begin with a social hour at 4 p.m. followed by dinner at 5:30 p.m. and the awards program starting at 6 p.m. The cost is $90 per person.
Sponsorships are available. Sponsors receive logo placement in the event program and on-screen presentation, recognition on the Arizona Game and Fish Department's website (which receives more than 1 million views annually), and exposure to an influential audience of conservation leaders, outdoor recreation supporters and state decision-makers. To be included in the printed event program, sponsorships must be confirmed by Dec. 28, 2026.
Your sponsorship not only helps celebrate Arizona's conservationists but also ensures that this important event is possible, as all banquet costs are covered through ticket sales and sponsor contributions.
To reserve your attendance or a sponsorship, use the 2027 Commission Awards Banquest Registration Form.
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission held its first annual awards banquet on Jan. 12, 1991. Since then, more than 400 recipients have been recognized with Commission Awards.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department receives no general fund tax dollars. The majority of funding to manage more than 800 native wildlife species comes from Arizona's hunters and anglers.