Delta Waterfowl Honors Top Chapter Leaders

Trimble, Rowlings named Volunteers of the Year for outstanding service to The Duck Hunters Organization

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA — Porter Trimble of Deville, Louisiana, and Murray Rowlings of Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia, were presented as Delta Waterfowl’s 2023-2024 International Volunteers of the Year on July 27 during the Duck Hunters Expo in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Delta Waterfowl’s Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by Stoeger, recognizes chapter leaders who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and effort to support the organization’s mission to produce ducks and secure the future of waterfowl hunting throughout North America. Trimble and Rowlings each receive a set of four shotguns, including the Stoeger M3500 Waterfowl Special. Delta has more than 5,000 volunteers among 325 chapters across the United States and Canada.

“We truly have the most passionate and dedicated volunteers in conservation,” said Dr. Scott Petrie, Delta’s chief executive officer. “Our volunteers are the lifeblood of Delta, and they contribute tremendously toward the success of delivering our programs for ducks and duck hunters. We appreciate every one of Delta’s volunteers. Congratulations to all who were nominated for Volunteer of the Year.”

Remarkably, Trimble serves triple duty as a Delta volunteer. In spring 2023, he took over as chairman of the Central Louisiana Chapter in Alexandria to reinvigorate that chapter, while remaining a committee member for the Grant Parish Chapter in Colfax. In addition, Trimble is a member of Delta’s Louisiana State Committee.

Under Trimble’s chairmanship, the Central Louisiana Chapter more than doubled its net revenue in 2023, setting a record for the event in the process. Trimble also mentored a new chairman of the Grant Parish Chapter, which also had a record-setting event in 2023. He continues to support local programs of both chapters, mentoring new hunters during a veteran’s hunt and distributing wood duck nesting boxes. Trimble led both chapters in a joint project at Dewey Mills Wildlife Management Area to rebuild a public access boat ramp and parking area for duck hunters. In addition, Trimble drove thousands of miles to deliver guns to 11 different chapters for fundraising raffles.

“Porter is amazing,” said Justin Higdon, Delta’s regional events director for Louisiana. “He shows up at other chapters’ events just to lend a hand and he’s willing to do anything he can to help. He wants every Delta event to be successful. He is a duck hunter to the core, but his commitment to conservation and community sets him apart as Delta Waterfowl volunteer.”

Rowlings has led the Eastern Shore Nova Scotia Chapter since its inception in 2018. His guidance, leadership, and commitment propel the chapter through successful annual fundraisers and conservation programs.

A commercial fisherman by trade, Rowlings takes it upon himself to ensure the future of waterfowl hunting by focusing on mentoring new hunters. The chapter mentored 18 hunters on pheasant outings, took 11 on additional hunts, helped 27 young people complete hunter safety, and mentored seven more young people on shooting and handling firearms at the skeet range. The chapter also built and installed 25 Hen Houses and 35 wood duck boxes.

Rowlings leads by example as a community-minded man, personally donating food and gifts to people in need while giving the credit to his Delta chapter, which raises the status of the organization.

“Murray is a tank of a man with the heart the size of a bull moose, and although he likes to try to hide his empathy and kindness, it is extremely evident in his heartfelt gestures,” said John Clements, Delta’s senior regional director for eastern Canada. “Murray exemplifies how to make big differences in small ways in a local community. I’m proud he’s a Delta volunteer, chairman, and most importantly, a friend.”

Delta’s Volunteer of the Year awards program encourages each chapter to nominate an outstanding volunteer. From those 292 nominees—all of whom were recognized by their local chapters for their dedication to Delta’s mission—12 finalists were selected. In addition to Trimble and Rowlings, finalists for 2023-2024 Volunteer of the Year include:

Clint Brochtrup, Aggieland Chapter, College Station, Texas

Brochtrup stepped into the chairman role, leading the chapter to nearly double its net revenue. He’s an effective leader who maximizes event underwriting and keeps the committee on track for a successful event. He led a wood duck project to install 100 nest boxes in the Navasota River Bottoms, and the chapter hosted University Hunting Program and First Hunt events to recruit new waterfowl hunters.

Landon Hergott, Salt Creek Chapter, Lincoln, Nebraska

Hergott is a natural leader, making sure every aspect of the chapter’s fundraising event is planned well and executed. And having a leg in a cast didn’t slow him down one bit, either for the event or installing Hen Houses a few weeks later. He attends expos, outdoor days, and hunts to promote Delta Waterfowl, and has helped strengthen other chapters in Nebraska and Colorado. His passion for Delta Waterfowl is evident.

Joe Costanza, Simcoe County Chapter, Bradford, Ontario

Costanza is an outstanding chapter chairman who continually strives to promote Delta Waterfowl’s mission. He is a volunteer leader for Delta’s R3 programs, helping with a women’s waterfowl event at the Delta Waterfowl Centre at Turkey Point, as well as two chapter First Hunt events attended by adults interested in taking up hunting. He represented Delta at The Great Canadian Outdoor Show and the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show.

Joe Knobbe, Osage Bottoms Chapter, Appleton City, Missouri

Knobbe relocated recently and helped get the Osage Bottoms Chapter started, serving as treasurer and an experienced Delta volunteer. Knobbe was the driving force as the new chapter raised an impressive $95,000 net in its first year—a record inaugural event in the region. The chapter is already involved in recruiting new waterfowl hunters and installing wood duck nesting structures.

Clay Paulson, Prairie Lakes Chapter, Estherville, Iowa

Paulson took over as chairman and pushed the chapter to new heights, more than doubling the net fundraising revenue to $80,700 at a sold-out event. Paulson worked to increase event underwriting and business involvement in the chapter. He also helped with a veteran’s hunt, youth hunt, local trap teams, and wood duck and Hen House nesting structure projects.

Randy McElyea, Susquehanna Flats Chapter, Havre de Grace, Maryland

McElyea was instrumental in the partnership with the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, bringing strong awareness about Delta Waterfowl with the chapter serving as the exclusive food vendor for the Decoy Festival. He drove the chapter to increase its fundraising net for the year and oversaw an Eagle Scout project at Swan Harbor Refuge. He’s a patient leader who gets the job done for Delta.

Garner Lee, Nashville Chapter, Nashville, Tennessee

Lee is the chairman of one of Delta’s largest, most successful chapters. Garner Lee started a scholarship in honor of his father, the late Scooter Lee, one of the chapter’s founders. Under Garner Lee’s leadership, the chapter supports one of the largest youth hunts in the United States. He also leads a push for the chapter’s nesting structure program that has deployed hundreds of wood duck boxes.

Josh Shaw, Fowl Play Junction Chapter, Kennewick, Washington

Shaw stepped forward as a volunteer and organized a committee of 15 volunteers to start a chapter in a new area for Delta Waterfowl. The first event netted nearly $50,000, with Shaw selling 130 tickets himself. He has mentored new hunters and inspired the chapter to take over maintenance of 100 wood duck nesting boxes. He’s a perfect example of how one person can make a huge difference.

JJ Miller, Central Alberta Waterfowlers, Red Deer, Alberta

Miller became chairman of the new chapter and immediately led the committee to host a sold-out event. In the second year, the chapter added another 40 people to the annual event, with Miller selling 80 tickets himself. The chapter installed 11 Hen Houses this year, and Miller has spoken to school groups to spread awareness about Delta’s conservation programs.

Steve Conrad, Back Bay Chapter, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Conrad serves as chairman of a very successful chapter that had a record-setting event of more than $90,000 net. In addition, he runs a major wood duck box program that now has 600 structures on public and private lands. The chapter engages in a 4H education and field day, a fishing tournament for sick children, and an expo booth at the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament. Despite his own significant health challenges, Conrad continued to lead the chapter.

Congratulations and thank you to all of Delta’s volunteers!

Delta Waterfowl is The Duck Hunters Organization, a leading conservation group working to produce ducks and ensure the future of duck hunting in North America. Visit deltawaterfowl.org.

For more information, contact Scott Terning at sterning@deltawaterfowl.org.