January 28, 2009

Springfield, MO — Tag along with Stone County Conservation Agent Dan Akin for a year and you’ll learn a conservation agent’s job consists of more than traversing the woods and waterways of the state in search of violators.

An ongoing involvement in conservation education coupled with a dedicated commitment to wildlife law enforcement has earned the Crane resident the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Missouri Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. Akin will be honored at the NWTF’s National Convention and Sport Show Feb. 19 through 22 in Nashville, Tenn. Akin’s winning of the Missouri award puts him in the competition for NWTF National Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, an award that will be announced at the convention.

Though the award is presented by the NWTF, it covers more than wild turkey management. It honors the accomplishments of individuals involved with enforcing regulations that cover the entire spectrum of fish and wildlife conservation.

“The conservation agents are the first line of defense for our resources,” said NWTF Director of Public Relations Brent Lawrence. “They are there to protect the animals and land so that everybody is able to enjoy these resources. Conservation agents also spend time teaching and educating people about the importance of the outdoors and the importance of conservation. This award honors the fine agents that serve the outdoors.”

True to this definition of the award, Akin’s accomplishments from July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, represent a diverse body of work. In the area of enforcement, Akin made or assisted in 113 arrests. These varied from ticketing out-of-season and over-limit deer and turkey poachers to arrests in a multi-state paddlefish caviar operation that violated federal wildlife laws.
Lawrence said a state wildlife agency’s commitment to enforcement is key to the success of conservation.

“Without the commitment of these individuals to protect wildlife from poachers, restoration efforts and wildlife management strategies would never succeed,” he said.

Akin and other conservation agents do more than arrest poachers, though. Agents’ educational efforts help the public understand the uniqueness of the natural resources of our state and the importance of the fish and game regulations that help conserve them. In between his enforcement duties, Akin found time to read to preschoolers at a Head Start center and conduct wildlife cooking classes for adults. Since joining the Missouri Department of Conservation as a conservation agent in Stone County in 1999, Akin has developed a strong rapport with local news media. During the past year Akin wrote newspaper articles about conservation topics and recorded public service announcements for the local radio station – PSAs that were broadcast in both English and Spanish.
“Dan’s enthusiasm and dedication to the job seems to grow every year,” said Missouri Department of Conservation Protection Division District Supervisor Ralph McNair. “Dan makes my job as his supervisor not only easy, but a pleasure.”

Akin hasn’t neglected the conservation education of his family, either. This past spring, he called in a turkey for his wife, Candis, to bag and also took his oldest of two daughters, Eryn, on a turkey hunt.

“Conservation Agent Dan Akin is a great example of the dedicated, professional employee that makes the Missouri Department of Conservation the organization that others envy,” McNair said. “Dan has developed a well-balanced program through the years, combining enforcement and education to accomplish the mission and goals of the Department.”

-Francis Skalicky-