SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – August 10, 2022 – For the third consecutive year, the Board of Directors of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame announces that the Hall has awarded four conservation grants to contribute to the mission of celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing. The awardees were selected through a highly competitive process, and they represent a diverse group of deserving projects.
“Each year we continue to be impress by the seriousness and dedication of our applicants,” said Bass Fishing Hall of Fame President John Mazurkiewicz. “We all agree that habitat restoration and management, and other conservation efforts, remain the bedrock of our sport and are critical to bass fishing’s future. These grants are one means of giving back to the wider community.”
The four grantees are as follows:
“Once again we are proud to incentivize and reward the substantial sweat equity that these entities will produce,” said Board member Gene Gilliland, who is also the B.A.S.S. Conservation Director and a recent Hall inductee. “It was difficult to choose the best four, but we’re confident that this group represents the best of the best. As time goes on, we hope that our efforts will become even more inclusive and substantial.” Gilliland and Board member Casey Shedd with AFTCO spearheaded the BFHOF conservation grant selection process.
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame has become much more than honoring the legends and innovators in the sport of bass fishing. Noted pro bass angler Kevin VanDam, a 2018 Bass Fishing HOF inductee and recent addition to the Board, “I have clearly reaped the benefits of the many volunteers and organizers who take on these types of projects. While people come to the induction ceremony to recognize the big names of the sport, all of these contributors need to be recognized for their efforts as well.”
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction dinner on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri. There will also be a concurrent auction, taking place from October 3-6 (visit www.BassFishingHOF.com for details), which will assist the Board in hosting the dinner and other recognition events each year, along with funding its conservation grants and other worthy endeavors benefiting the sport of bass fishing. Sponsor tiers for the “Celebrate Bass Fishing Week” are still being offered. Information on the plaque unveiling presenting sponsor, along with Gold, Silver, Bronze and table sponsors, along with individual dinner tickets is available by contacting the BFHOF executive director Barbara Bowman at bbowman@bassfishinghof.com or (501) 541-6660, or Board president John Mazurkiewicz at president@bassfishinghof.com or (574) 292-2500.
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About the BFHOF -- The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors and is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing. Since 2017, the Hall’s inductees and memorabilia representing the history of bass fishing is showcased in Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, where it has rapidly become a popular destination.
For more information about the Hall, its mission, and to become a supporting member,
visit www.BassFishingHOF.com,
or contact BFHOF executive director Barbara Bowman at bbowman@bassfishinghof.com.