Delta Waterfowl Honors Champions of Conservation

Outstanding advocates help The Duck Hunters Organization fulfill the mission to produce ducks and ensure the future of waterfowl hunting across North America

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA — Delta Waterfowl hosts an annual awards luncheon as part of the organization’s Duck Hunters Expo to highlight key leaders in the waterfowl community. Honorees are recognized for their outstanding contributions to advance Delta’s mission to produce more ducks and ensure the future of waterfowl hunting.

Delta honored Todd Loewen, Jenna Ronquest, Ty Burns, Carl Wagner, and Pat Gregory—all recipients worthy of the prestigious awards presented on July 26 during the Champions of Delta luncheon in Oklahoma City.

“Delta Waterfowl is thrilled to celebrate these individuals for their hard work and commitment to our mission of helping produce ducks and secure the future of waterfowl hunting for generations to come,” said Cyrus Baird, Delta Waterfowl’s senior director of government affairs. “From elected officials and commissioners, to advocates and volunteers, we are incredibly thankful to have such great relationships across North America with passionate conservationists like Minister Loewen, Representative Burns, Commissioner Wagner, Ms. Ronquest and Mr. Gregory. Together, we can help deliver more results for ducks and duck hunters.”

The Hon. Todd Loewen, Alberta’s minister of Forestry and Parks, was presented with Delta’s “Conservation Leader Award.” Loewen is a committed outdoor enthusiast who has focused on raising awareness for sustainable wildlife stewardship practices throughout his decades of work. As an outfitter and avid hunter, he has taken steps to modernize and innovate hunting rules and regulations to refine Alberta’s approach to waterfowl management. His recently proposed legislation focuses on preserving Alberta’s status as a waterfowl hunting destination and is a testament to his continued commitment to serve Alberta and Delta Waterfowl’s conservation priorities.

Jenna Ronquest of Hazen, Arkansas, earned Delta’s “Waterfowling Legacy Award.” Ronquest’s commitment to waterfowl conservation does not stop with education and public service. As an Arkansas native, she recognizes the cultural and ecological significance afforded to publicly accessible wetlands. As a Delta Waterfowl graduate student, she gathered systemic information on hunting access and National Wildlife refuges in the southeastern and midwestern United States, laying the foundation for continued hunting advocacy and awareness.

Oklahoma State Rep. Ty Burns received the “Partners in Conservation Award.” Burns holds many distinguished titles ranging from decorated veteran and award-winning educator to successful rancher, and has continually made impactful contributions as a leader in shaping Oklahoma’s legacy of wildlife policy. In 2025, he authored legislation to regulate hunting guides and outfitters aimed at protecting public lands and improving transparency for the hunting community. Burns established a strong partnership with Delta Waterfowl and has made an outsized impact on creating policy that benefits both waterfowl and waterfowl hunters in Oklahoma.

Delta’s 2025 “Frederic C. Walcott Conservationist of the Year” is Carl Wagner, chairman of the Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Commission. Wagner, a volunteer commissioner and dedicated sportsman, has been a driving force enhancing hunting access and conservation funding in Maryland. Wagner has organized and hosted numerous veterans’ hunts, as well as youth hunting mentorship programs across the state, while also pushing to repeal obsolete hunting laws and advance hunting and wildlife funding. His tireless commitment helps Maryland continue to be a global icon for the waterfowl hunting community.

Pat Gregory, of Bloomington, Illinois, was named Delta’s “Peter Ward Waterfowl Hunting Heritage Ambassador.” Gregory is a master decoy carver who has been producing decoys since 1984 and remains a true ambassador for the waterfowl community. He and Delta’s Paul Wait founded the Delta Decoy Hunt, an annual event in which decoy makers from throughout North America donate a hand-carved working decoy to be a component of that year’s spread, with a different species and location being chosen each year. Additionally, Gregory has played an instrumental role in establishing the network of decoy carvers that has engaged with Delta Waterfowl, ultimately boosting the organization’s conservation impact at a continental scale. Through his influence, 72 decoy carvers have donated a total of 132 decoys to The Duck Hunters Organization, resulting in $75,000 in raised funds to support Delta’s programs. Gregory embodies the heritage and traditions of the waterfowl hunting community, is a tireless advocate for Delta Waterfowl’s mission, and remains the living icon of a true waterfowl conservationist.

Delta Waterfowl extends its sincerest gratitude to all honorees and applauds their combined efforts and dedication to ducks, duck hunters, and the conservation of North America’s wetlands.

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