March 13, 2002

Brenda Valentine, known as the "First Lady of Hunting," has joined US Olympic Gold Medallist Nancy Johnson and country music entertainer Irlene Mandrell as a national spokesperson for the National Wild Turkey Federation's Women in the Outdoors program.

"Having Brenda on board is so great," said Trish Berry, NWTF's Women in the Outdoor national coordinator. "The fact that she's well known as an excellent hunter and teacher will help the Women in the Outdoors program reach even more people than ever before."

Valentine is a life-long resident of Henry Co. Tenn. where she grew up hunting and experiencing the outdoors, which formed the foundation for her success in the hunting and outdoors industry. Valentine, a familiar figure in the hunting and outdoor industry, is an award-winning author, speaker and TV personality. She has accomplished a national championship archery title, the Knight Rifle Master Hunter award, and a National Shooting Sports Foundation award for writing. Valentine is a regular co-host of "OUTDOOR WORLD," a nationally televised program for Bass Pro Shops, and has been a member on the Bass Pro Shops RedHead Professional Hunting Team for six years. She is presently being inducted into a TN Sports Hall of Fame for her shooting accomplishments.

"Being a national spokesperson for Women in the Outdoors will enable me to further share my gifts-a keen knowledge of the outdoors, woodsmanship and hunting," said Valentine. "I hope to instill self-confidence and encourage other women to recognize and share their own special gifts, as well as pass on my love of the outdoors."

The Women in the Outdoors program is dedicated to providing interactive educational outdoor opportunities for women. Outdoor learning events, which feature

exciting hands-on activities ranging from hunting to hiking, are conducted by local NWTF chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

The Women in the Outdoors program's goal is to teach the importance of wildlife management, increase participation in outdoor activities and to preserve the hunting tradition. Each participant becomes a member of the NWTF. As part of their annual $25 membership, women will receive Women In The Outdoors magazine, which is a quarterly publication that features articles dedicated to wildlife conservation and enjoying outdoor activities.

The membership for Women in the Outdoors has increased from 1,300 in 1998 to more than 35,000 in 2001.

To receive information about Brenda Valentine and her involvement with the NWTF visit www.brendavalentine.com. For more information about the NWTF or about the NWTF's Women in the Outdoors program, call 1-800-THE-NWTF or visit the web site at www.nwtf.org.

About the NWTF: In 1973 when the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded, there were an estimated 1.3 million wild turkeys and 1.5 million turkey hunters. Thanks to the work of wildlife agencies and the NWTF's many volunteers and partners, today there are an estimated 5.6 million wild turkeys and approximately 2.6 million turkey hunters. Since 1985, more than $150 million NWTF and cooperator dollars have been spent on over 18,000 projects benefiting wild turkeys throughout North America.

The NWTF is a 390,000-member grassroots, nonprofit organization with members in 50 states, Canada and 11 foreign countries. It supports scientific wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands as well as wild turkey hunting as a traditional North American sport.

For more information on the National Wild Turkey Federation, call (803) 637-3106, check out our web site at www.nwtf.org or e-mail questions to nwtf@nwtf.net.