Ignacio, Colo- Four Corners SCI is pleased to announce that Jennifer Burbey, of Durango, Colo., is the 2023 Jim Willems Commitment to Conservation Award Recipient.
“We are excited to present this award to an amazing woman in our community who is fighting so hard for our hunting and outdoor freedoms,” said Four Corners SCI President Jason Deweese.
The Jim Willems Commitment to Conservation award was created in 2020 by the Four Corners SCI board to recognize a person within the Four Corners area who has gone above and beyond for conservation efforts.
As an outfitter, Jennifer and her husband Geoff work to share our enthusiasm for the outdoor, hunting, and agriculture lifestyle with countless other people whose dreams include the backcountry, a simple existence, and healthy, consistent numbers of quality wildlife. Her outfitting business, Highlands Unlimited Inc., has been making dreams come true since 1993.
In her mission to share the Colorado outdoor, hunting, and fishing lifestyle, Jenny has taken it upon herself to attend and pay attention to wildlife meetings, Commission hearings, and attend United States Forest Service public meetings.
For about two decades, Burbey has been traveling to in-person meetings to stand up and testify for wildlife, hunters, and outfitters in Colorado. She sits on numerous roundtables and committees and speaks for wildlife and for our use of the land where they reside. Additionally, she recently completed service on Colorado’s wolf introduction Stakeholder Advisory Group.
She has worked to educate the public concerning the challenges that she and other outfitters will face with a wolf introduction (hunting opportunities may be lost, and they may be forced out of business).
“I don’t know of anyone who works as hard,” says Mia Anstine, SCI Regional Representative “We wish there were more people in our community who are as dedicated as Jennifer is in her effort to conserve wildlife.”
Commitment to Conservation Award:
The Four Corners SCI Jim Willems Commitment to Conservation Award recognizes a local man or woman who has gone above and beyond in the realm of wildlife conservation. The award winner is nominated by chapter members and voted upon by the chapter’s board of directors. The candidate must display great stewardship of the outdoors. Their passion is present via their commitment to local conservation through volunteer and/or monetary giving. The recipient demonstrates involvement in local and/or national organizations that focus on the betterment of local wildlife, habitat and hunting. They have the ability to bring others into local conservation through knowledge, experience and education. Finally, the winner has a commitment to the recruitment of the next generation of conservationists.
Categories: Banquet/fundraiser, SCI News
Four Corners Chapter SCI 
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