I sure didn’t see this one coming.
When I was asked by the awards chairman of the Virginia Chapter of the American Fisheries Society if I could come to their business meeting at Washington & Lee University in Lexington I was shocked.
An award from these folks is serious business, they are the scientific pros in aquatics. The award is “given to a citizen or non-fisheries professional who has demonstrated outstanding protection or enhancement of aquatic resources on their property or who has made significant contributions to the protection of aquatic resources within the state of Virginia.“
I had no idea they knew who I was, let alone would want to present me an award. I was thrilled, honored and thankful.
While this award was given to me, none of my accomplishment are possible without other people. Conservation advocacy by nature is a team sport and over the years I have been blessed to work with a number of people and organizations. They are the boots on the ground and in the water that make success possible. I appreciate them all and they deserve the credit as well.
As I reflect on this award, the simple take away from my years of doing this that is to keep fighting, don’t get discouraged, take the wins where you can and build on them. But, and this is the best advice I can offer, get out and enjoy the fruits of that work, it makes the fight worthwhile.