BAY MINETTE — Rep. Randy Davis of Daphne was recently awarded the Conservationist of the Year Award at the 2011 Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards banquet.

The Alabama Wildlife Federation held the banquet, co-sponsored by the Alabama Power Co. and PowerSouth Energy at The Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill in Prattville, Ala. Other sponsors included Consolidated Pipe & Supply Inc., First South Farm Credit Coop, Lee Thuston, National Wildlife Federation, River Bank & Trust and Talladega Superspeedway.

The AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards (GCAA) are the most prestigious conservation honor in the state of Alabama. Over the past 30 years, the AWF has presented these awards to individuals and organizations that make great contributions to the conservation of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources.

Representative Davis is serving his third term in the Alabama House of Representatives.  Throughout his legislative tenure, he has been a stalwart supporter of hunting, angling and natural resource conservation issues.

He also serves as the chairman of the Sporting Issues Subcommittee in the House and co-chair of the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. He has been particularly active in land conservation efforts along the Coast, including efforts through support of the Coastal Impact Assistance Program, Coastal Estuarine Land Conservation Program, Forever Wild, and many, many more.

Alabamians will have a unique opportunity in November 2012. That opportunity is a chance to vote to continue the Forever Wild Land Trust.

This voting opportunity is because of the leadership of Representative Davis.

During the 2011 Legislative Session, he was the tip of the spear with respect to Forever Wild. He successfully led two public hearings and two floor votes for Forever Wild. Not only did he secure the support of his fellow legislators, he also secured the support of media and grassroots constituents — all three highly important elements required for successful passage of Forever Wild legislation.

The GCAA was created to promote leadership by example and in turn increase conservation of the natural resources in Alabama including its wildlife, forests, soils, water and air. The program is designed to bring about a greater knowledge and awareness of conservation practices and projects and to give proper recognition to those persons and organizations that make outstanding contributions to the natural resource welfare of their community and state.