On The Hill

CSF Teams with Richard Childress Racing to Champion Sportsmen’s Issues

Teaming up for a winning event, CSF and famed NASCAR legend Richard Childress celebrated America’s outdoor traditions of hunting and fishing at “Wine, Wheels & Wildlife” at the Childress Vineyards in Lexington, North Carolina.  The event served as a platform to bring two common constituencies together and to underscore the importance for sportsmen to have a voice on the political playing field.

“NASCAR fans are hunters and anglers.  When they are not watching or attending a race, they are outdoors,” Richard Childress said, “It gives me great pleasure to be able to combine three of my favorite passions to champion a worthy cause.  CSF, along with all of the state and federal legislators that are active in sportsmen’s caucuses, has been a true champion in promoting sportsmen’s issues in the political arena.”  

Celebrating “Wine, Wheels & Wildlife,” NASCAR, hunting and fishing enthusiasts came from across the country to enjoy an evening of outdoor activities including archery, casting, wildlife calling and skeet shooting.  Legislators from South and North Carolina attended the event, as well as notable leaders from the hunting, fishing and NASCAR community.  Among the who’s who of the racing and outdoor world in attendance were executives from the National Rifle Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Bass Pro, Triton Boats, Grady-White Boats, Realtree, SCI, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, AT&T, Reese’s, Shell Oil, and BB&T.

“Your support tonight has helped NASC and state sportsmen’s caucuses achieve amazing success in just a few short years.  You can rest assured that through the efforts of CSF at the federal level and National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses at the state level the voice of hunters and anglers is loud and clear and policymakers are paying attention,” stated CSF president Jeff Crane, speaking to the attendees.

Richard Childress Joins the CSF Board of Directors

Bringing the same level of enthusiasm and dedication he brings to racing to ensuring the rights of hunters and anglers are well served in the halls of government, Richard Childress has joined the CSF Board of Directors.

"If I wasn't in the racing business, I'd be involved in something where I could be outside all day," commented Richard Childress. "Call me an outdoorsman. I love to hunt and fish but I am also very passionate about the conservation of wildlife and habitat."  Indeed, Childress is as much about giving back to wildlife, hunting and fishing as he is about being a successful business man.  Known for his success in the NASCAR racing world, Childress is also the proprietor of Childress Vineyards in Lexington, N.C., as well as the Yadkin River Angus cattle ranch.

"I like to give back by helping organizations that I know are making a difference in our hunting heritage.  The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation has been the one organization that has stayed focused on the legislative side of ensuring hunting and fishing for today and the future,” noted Childress.  “Hunting, access to land and water and thriving wildlife lies as much in politics as it does in conservation.  I am honored to be able to do my part by serving on the CSF Board.”

U.S. Senate Urged to Provide $6 billion for Conservation in Farm Bill

In an a full page ad appearing in Roll Call, the most read newspaper by members of Congress, CSF along with leading organizations representing hunters, anglers and the outdoor industry, urged the U.S. Senate to build on the $4.5 billion funding approved in the House version of the 2007 Farm Bill by fully funding conservation titles at the $6 billion level.

The ad points out that current levels of funding are not adequate, as 2 out of 3 farmers are turned down when they request funds to support conservation on their land, and 74% of conservation applications go unfunded.