Rocky Mountain Flycasters’ Awards for 2024
Rocky Mountain Flycasters Honors Seven Individuals and One Fly Shop for Outstanding Volunteer Efforts
Each year, Rocky Mountain Flycasters recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to assure the Chapter succeeds in meeting our impressive watershed conservation goals, our youth education goals and generally keep our Chapter moving forward at a high level. These awards were presented on April 16, 2025 at our annual Chapter Business meeting. Each award winner receives, in addition to a certificate, a Columbia garment with our logo and their name embroidered. The complete Awards Policy and Procedure can be viewed on our website.
This year’s award recipients are:
Exemplary Chapter Function: Cullen Emsing for his dedicated efforts to ensure embroidered shirts were timely obtained allowing all of us to show our support for the Chapter and express our comradery. The processes he developed required careful thought and effort to secure high-quality clothing bearing the RMFTU logo.
Exemplary Chapter Function: Dave Handshue for his dedicated efforts serving as Secretary for the Board of Directors for RMFTU. He created timely minutes of Board and Chapter business meetings producing an easy to read summation of important discussion topics.
Exemplary Chapter Function: Bill Adkison for providing his insight and wisdom to the Board of Directors while serving as Director at large for RMFTU. His 30+ years of Trout Unlimited experience brought a deep appreciation of its history and his helpfulness provided insight for new leaders within the Chapter.
Exemplary Chapter Function: Mark Miller for outstanding efforts with the RMFTU Trout Expo and providing expertise as Chair of the Events Committee. His knowledge, experience and leadership skills bring a wealth of information to many projects within the Chapter while simultaneously mentoring members who take on important assignments.
Exemplary Youth Education: Jeannie Weaver for her enthusiastic volunteer efforts - over multiple years - across all of Rocky Mountain Flycasters’ youth activities, including NoCO Youth Fly Fishing Summer Camp, Children's Water Festival, Leadership of the Kids' Spring Free Fishing Day, Family Fly Fishing Camp; River Discovery Day, as well as representing RMF’s support to CTU's Stream Girls Program.
Exemplary Youth Education Award: Bob Castner for his outstanding efforts providing assistance to the RMFTU Youth Fly Fishing Camp for many years and his help with Pub and Dub - one of the most well attended Chapter events.
Exemplary Conservation Volunteer: Ruthie Ketola for her outstanding efforts identifying naturally occurring barriers essential to restoration of the Greenback Cutthroat Trout in the Poudre River headwaters. She was also heavily involved in the stream temperature monitoring program, essential to identifying sites for Greenback stocking.
Outstanding Chapter Volunteer: John Bryant for his tireless efforts in growing the youth and adult education programs thus spreading the conservation message for RMFTU. He was also instrumental in negotiating a free lease for our storage area and replacing many of the items that were stolen from the previous one.
President’s Award: Terry Gibbons for continuously providing leadership and support, especially with the Expo and our website - many of his other meaningful contributions go unnoticed. His leadership, drive, collaboration and tireless efforts devoted to our 2025 Expo were exemplary - leveraging prior years’ experience with new ideas to improve all facets of the event. The outstanding feedback from attendees, fly tyers and exhibitors can be largely attributed to Terry’s efforts.
President’s Award: Mickey McGuire This is a special award for one of our very special members, Mickey McGuire. Mickey has served in many leadership roles in our Chapter, including as a former President and current Leadership Development and Nominations Chair. Mickey has inspired many of us to actively participate not only in our Chapter, but across broader cold water conservation efforts, including with partnering coalitions and agencies involved in water management and community engagement. His insights and skills have been invaluable.
Coldwater Resource Conservation Award: Hally Strevey for her exceptional contributions toward RMFTU’S mission of cold-water conservation. As the Executive Director of CPRW, Hally Strevey is critical in securing funding for restoration projects, spearheading educational campaigns on post fire restoration in the Poudre Watershed, and working with communities to create proactive plans for preventing and responding to future floods and fires. Hally’s leadership embodies the values of stewardship, sustainability and collaboration.
Public Partner Award: Chris Kennedy for his long time commitment to the Chapter's mission of Greenback Cutthroat Trout restoration in the headwaters of the RMFTU watersheds. As a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Chris Kennedy’s scientific and historical contributions bring insight and expertise to this key RMFTU conservation project. His ability to manage RMFTU volunteers, as well as educate members about the importance of the project and the techniques used to ensure survival of the greenback cutthroat has been critical to our mission.