President Carter to receive CFFCM award

By Zoey McGee | Manor Ink

Livingston Manor, NY – In July, the Executive Committee of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum decided President Jimmy Carter would be the 2023 recipient of the Lee Wulff Conservation Award.

The Lee Wulff Conservation Award was created in 2003 by Joan Wulff in honor of her late husband, whom the award is named after. It recognizes a person who has significantly contributed to enhancing or preserving wild fish species or their environment. The CFFCM has given the honor to multiple individuals over the years, whenever they found it appropriate.

Manor Ink talked to Ali Abate, executive director of the CFFCM, about why the former President was chosen to receive the award. She and the Board of Trustees at the center wanted a way to honor Carter, who celebrates his 99th birthday this month, and his ties to the CFFCM.

“He does have a pretty deep connection to the fly fishing center and our region, and just really river conservation more generally. So we were describing different ways to pay homage to that connection with him,” said Abate.

In 1984, Carter came to Sullivan County and the CFFCM when the organization was first created. “It was a really rich visit where he got to see many people and got to know what Sullivan County is all about. And because he is someone who is an outdoorsman, environmentalist and someone who loves angling and fishing, it was kind of the perfect place to come to visit,” Abate said.

The CFFCM hopes, with this award, to bring out and highlight Jimmy Carter’s connection to the beginning of the organization and his incredible efforts in preserving rivers in our area.

The fly fishing center has contacted the Carter Center, and they are very honored about the award. And though the Carters will not be able to attend the ceremony in person, they are excited about the acknowledgement because of the time the president had spent in the county.

The Lee Wulff Conservation Award ceremony will take place beginning at 4 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 7, during the CFFCM’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner. For more information about the event, visit cffcm.com/eventscalendar.