Starkville Daily News

Haas earns National NWTF award

- For Starkville Daily News

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation recognized Toxey Haas, founder and CEO of Mossy Oak, with the Lynn Boykin Hunting Heritage Award for his contributi­ons to conservati­on and the preservati­on of our hunting heritage.

"I am beyond humbled to be the recipient of the 2023 Lynn Boykin Hunting Heritage Award," Haas said. "With my lifelong involvemen­t in the NWTF, I am keenly aware of the monumental significan­ce this award, all of its past recipients, and especially Miss Boykin carry! I could not be recognized in more fulfilling and gratifying way. Having grown up knowing her and her family makes it even more special. As everyone well knows, turkeys have been in my life since my earliest days.

Regardless of my love for all wildlife, nature and the earth itself, turkeys and turkey hunting and turkey conservati­on have always come first. Even as an enterprise and a brand, for Mossy Oak, turkeys are the center of the bullseye. It is with the deepest heart of gratitude I accept the award on behalf of the Haas family and all the truly amazing family within the Mossy Oak brand. It is one we will cherish forever."

Haas accepted the award during the NWTF'S 50th anniversar­y celebratio­n at its 47th annual Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by Mossy Oak.

The Lynn Boykin Hunting Heritage Award's namesake was a former president and chairperso­n of the NWTF'S National Board of Directors. During her tenure, she emphasized the im*portance of hunting heritage and helped create a new outlook for the organizati­on.

As Boykin did, Haas lives his life working to advance our nation's outdoor traditions.

Haas' love of the outdoors and conservati­on was passed on to him through his father. He founded Haas Outdoors in 1986 with an idea to make camouflage more realistic, giv- ing rise to Mossy Oak, one of the NWTF'S strongest partners. Haas is an avid turkey hunter and says, “There is something intangible about the wild turkey; it is at the center of our brand and of our family.”

Through Haas' leadership, Mossy Oak has been a staunch supporter of NWTF, sponsoring our national convention, conservati­on efforts, and scholarshi­ps for youth and hunting heritage programs that pass on outdoor traditions.

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