Photo by Bart Moss
The Franklin County chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation presents a check for $750 to the Cedar Hill Smoking Guns at its Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt banquet. Pictured are (front, left to right) Skyler Poore, Carson Cox, (middle, left to right) Mac Booth, Cole Willingham, John Isaac Wilson, Logan Taylor, Caleb Mays, (back, left to right) James King, Tim Burks, Keith Arnett, Brandon James and Wade Willingham.

By Bart Moss
For the FCT

The Franklin County chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation held its annual Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt banquet last week at the A.W. Todd Center in Russellville.
According to the organization’s website, it is dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of turkey hunting heritage.
More than 100 people in attendance bid on items in a silent auction ranging from guns and knives to wildlife paintings to hunting gear. The profits of the auction and banquet went to helping promote youth hunting programs and meet the goals of the NWTF.
“Locally we want to raise money to fund youth programs that help young people learn and appreciate the art of hunting,” said Tim Burks, the Franklin County chapter’s president. “We support archery programs and shooting programs.”
“Not every kid gets involved in school sports,” Burks added. “There are additional extracurricular activities for our students to focus on like hunting and fishing.
Funds raised also help contribute to the national organization’s ten-year plan, Burks said.
According to the National Wild Turkey Federation’s web site, the ten-year initiative includes: 1) conserve or enhance four million acres of critical habitat, 2) create 1.5 million new hunters through youth outreach programs, 3) open access to 500,000 additional acres for turkey hunting.
The organization donated $750 to the Cedar Hill Smoking Guns at the event. The group is based in Belgreen and led by Wade Willingham. The money will help the Cedar Hill Smoking Guns attend the national Grand American shooting contest in Illinois in August. They advanced to nationals by winning the state competition in Montgomery.