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Program is Part of Budweiser’s $10 Million Investment into Conservation Initiatives.

Budweiser

ST. LOUIS --(Ammoland.com)- Bill D’Alonzo of Greenville, Del., was named the 2012 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year today at the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas.

This is the 17th consecutive year Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation have recognized an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the outdoors and conservation.

The annual award is part of the Budweiser Outdoors program. This program, which is also supported by matching donations from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, has raised more than $10 million for on-the-ground conservation initiatives.

Throughout the years, the Budweiser Outdoors program has supported organizations – including, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl Foundation and the Quality Deer Management Association – to promote outdoor sports and wildlife conservation.

“Since 1995, the Budweiser Outdoors program has celebrated and supported the passion, dedication and leadership of conservationists across the country,” said Bob Fishbeck, senior manager for the Budweiser brands. “We all have a responsibility to help protect our natural resources and the work being done by Bill and other wildlife advocates is an inspiration for all of us to follow.”

Each year, the Budweiser Conservationists of the Year is selects four finalists from dozens of outstanding nominees, and adults across the country vote for their favorite in an open-ballot process on Budweiser.com.

D’Alonzo has a long history of wildlife and wetland protection efforts. At the age of 14, his passion for hunting drove him to become a member of Ducks Unlimited. Over the years, D’Alonzo’s passion has grown in his roles as a volunteer, national committee member, state treasurer and senior vice president for business planning. Today, his credo of practicing what he preaches continues to drive his commitment to conservation. Whether it is the 20 managed habitats that he established or the hundreds of acres of native grasses, shrubs and small grain crops he’s planted, D’Alonzo’s belief in the power of conservation continues to make an impact across Delaware and beyond. A $50,000 grant from Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will be made to an organization of choosing to support conservation efforts.

Three other dedicated conservationists were selected alongside D’Alonzo as finalists for the award: Fred Bryant of Kingsville, Texas; Don R. Johnson of Festus, Mo. and David Ramsey of Unicoi, Tenn. Each will receive a $5,000 grant from Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to be distributed to wildlife or conservation projects of their choosing.

A nonprofit organization established by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation sustains, restores and enhances the nation’s fish and wildlife. By teaming leadership conservation investments with those of public and private partners, the Foundation maximizes measurable conservation benefits. Since its establishment, the Foundation has awarded 10,800 grants to more than 3,700 organizations in the United States and abroad, while leveraging more than $635 million in federal funds into $1.5 billion for conservation. For more information, visit www.nfwf.org.

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.3 percent share of U.S. beer sales to retailers. The company brews the world’s largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser-Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico’s leading brewer. Anheuser-Busch is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and has been a leading aluminum recycler for more than 30 years. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.

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Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation volunteer board member Fred Bryant of Kingsville, Texas, is among four finalists for the 2012 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year award.

The winner, to be selected by consumer voting, will receive $50,000 from Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support their priority conservation projects.

To vote, go to www.budweiser.com, enter your birth date to confirm you are over 21, look for “We’re Donating $65,000. Vote for Conservationist of the Year” on the main page, and click to cast your vote. Only one vote accepted per person and all voters must be at least 21 years of age. All votes must be received by Jan. 6, 2012.

Votes also are accepted by mail. On a 3×5 card or piece of paper, write your name, address and age as well as the name of the candidate you’ve selected. Mail to 2012 Conservationist of the Year, P.O. Box 1069, Young America, MN 55594-1069.

Bryant serves as chairman of the RMEF Lands and Conservation Committee. Under his leadership, RMEF has permanently protected more than 224,000 acres–an area nearly the size of Rocky Mountain National Park–of vital habitat for elk and other wildlife. Many of those acres are now also open for the public to hunt and fish.

RMEF President and CEO David Allen said, “Congratulations to Fred. He’s an extraordinary leader and dedicated conservationist who deserves recognition, and RMEF is very fortunate to have him on our team.”

Allen added, “Every time a new lands project comes up, Fred begins his analysis by asking the same three key questions: 1) Is it good for elk and other wildlife, 2) is it important habitat in danger of being lost to development, and 3) will it open or maintain public access to sportsmen.”

“I hope every elk hunter who’s of age will go online and return the favor,” he added.

Budweiser’s website includes the following bio:

“Fred Bryant’s 34-year history of advancing conservation stretches from Canada to the Andes of Peru. But nowhere is it more apparent than the many places wild elk roam across North America. Fred’s work with RMEF has protected over 85,000 acres of habitat in the last year alone. But RMEF is just one aspect of Fred’s tireless commitment to conservation. Fred has also worked with Taking Care of Texas, Boone and Crockett Club and many other conservation organizations. And as an author, speaker and professor of range and wildlife management at Texas Tech University and the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Fred has taught thousands of students to share his passion for the outdoors.”

Other nominees include Don R. Johnson of Festus, Mo., Bill D’Alonzo of Greenville, Del., and David Ramsey of Unicoi, Tenn.

The 2012 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year will be formally recognized on Jan. 18, 2012, during the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas.

Budweiser has been the official beer of RMEF for over 23 years. Since 1999, the “Help Budweiser Conserve the Outdoors” program, along with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and RMEF members, has raised more than $1.1 million for conservation and education.

Allen said, “Budweiser is one of RMEF’s longest standing and most valuable partners. The company’s dedication to our mission began in 1988 with a major gift for our first-ever permanent land protection project, and it continues today with sponsorship and support on many levels throughout our organization.”

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
RMEF is leading a conservation initiative that has protected or enhanced habitat on over 6 million acres–an area larger than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain and Great Smoky Mountains national parks combined. RMEF also is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. RMEF members, partners and volunteers, working together as Team Elk, are making a difference all across elk country. Join us at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

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