Alan White of Stapleton was recently awarded the Conservation Communicator of the Year Award at the 2014 Alabama Wildlife Federation Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards banquet. The Alabama Wildlife Federation held the banquet on August 8 at The Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill in Prattville. Co-sponsors of the event were Alabama Power Company and PowerSouth Energy

Alan White, known as the "OutsideMan," is a writer, communicator and educator who has been bringing information and news to anglers, hunters and outdoor enthusiast for close to 20 years.  His love of hunting and fishing led him to follow his lifelong dream of launching a quality magazine in 1997, Great Days Outdoors, that addresses the passions of hunters and anglers in the South and promotes wise use and responsible stewardship of Alabama's natural resources.

In 2005, Alan started a weekly radio show at WNSP in Mobile which later expanded into syndication for other Alabama markets.  In 2013, it won the prestigious Best Outdoor Radio Show, an annual award by Lagniappe magazine.  He also writes an outdoor column for Alabama Living, a monthly journal distributed to over 400,000 Electric Co-Op Members.

Alan has always utilized natural resource professionals and conservation organizations to help spread the conservation message through his show and his publications.  He uses his media prowess to reach out to those less fortunate with the Alabama Hunger Relief program, where hunters donate harvested deer that is ground and distributed to various food banks.  Over 5,000 lbs were donated to six charities in 2012 and 2013.  He also works with many fishing clubs; assisting in the delivery of over 500 lbs of fish to the Salvation Army.

When Baldwin County acquired Live Oak Landing in 2013, Alan organized the Delta Rendezvous, a family-friendly event that highlights the great outdoors in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.

The AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards (GCAA) are the most respected conservation honors in the state of Alabama. Over the past 40 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.

Additional sponsors included Consolidated Construction Company, Consolidated Pipe & Supply, Inc., First South Farm Credit, Hinton Lumber Products, Mr. Josh & Mrs. Mary Virginia Mandell, Mr. Lee Thuston, Russell Lands and Talladega Superspeedway. The Westervelt Company sponsored the social event prior to the banquet. Alabama Gulf Seafood was sponsored by the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission.

The Alabama Wildlife Federation, established by sportsmen in 1935, is the state’s oldest and largest citizens’ conservation organization. The mission of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit group supported by membership dues and donations, is to promote conservation and wise use of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources as a basis for economic and social prosperity. 

To learn more about AWF, including membership details, programs and projects, contact Alabama Wildlife Federation at 1-800-822-WILD or visit www.alabamawildlife.org.