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TWRA hosts national 4‑H wildlife-evaluation contest; Tennessee 4‑H wins nationals
Summary
The agency highlighted hosting the national Wildlife Evaluation Program (WEP), noting nearly 100 students from 11 states attended and Tennessee 4‑H placed first; TWRA said the contest supports skills development and private-land wildlife habitat management.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reported that it hosted this year’s national 4‑H Wildlife Evaluation Program (WEP), drawing nearly 100 students from 11 states to competitions and field instruction at Bridgestone Firestone Wildlife Management Area and Catoosa WMA.
Director Maxedon told commissioners the WEP traces to a program developed in the 1970s by Dr. Jim Byford and that this year’s contest emphasized habitat, food plots and conservation practices for private lands. Materials presented to the commission showed students worked through identification stations, on-site management decisions and collaborative written and oral management plans.
Director Maxedon said the event furthers TWRA’s recruitment pipeline for future employees and thanked the University of Tennessee Extension and TWRA staff for supporting the contest. The commission was shown highlights from a short video of the event and congratulated Tennessee 4‑H for a first-place finish at the national competition.
Why this matters: TWRA described the contest as part of long-term efforts to educate students about wildlife habitat management on private lands and to build life and technical skills — identification, written plans and oral presentation — that the agency said feed future conservation and staff recruitment.
TWRA said the agency has supported WEP since its creation and will continue sponsorship and operational support with extension partners and agency biologists.
