2.07.2008 - 11:28am ET

(CSRwire) ST. LOUIS, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lowell E. Baier from Potomac, Md., an avid outdoorsman, was named the 2008 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year at the annual Budweiser Outdoors press conference held in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 2, during the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show.

Baier was selected in the annual program that recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the outdoors and conservation. Each year, a committee selects four conservationists, 21 or older, as finalists from dozens of outstanding nominees, and Budweiser consumers from across the country vote for the Conservationist of the Year in an open-ballot process on Budweiser.com.

A $50,000 grant from Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) will be made to Baier to support conservation efforts. In addition, the grant can be matched and the value of the award could reach as much as $200,000.

"We would like to congratulate Lowell Baier for his selection as the 2008 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year," said Bob Fishbeck, Budweiser product manager, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "It is an honor for us to recognize Lowell, our 13th Budweiser Conservationist of the Year, and his many years of service promoting conservation initiatives with the Boone & Crockett Club and across the country."

This marks the 13th year Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation have honored a national Budweiser Conservationist of the Year. Previous winners include: G. Richard Mode of Morganton, N.C. (2007); Wendell Berryhill of Cochran, Ga. (2006); Bill Crawford of Frederick, Okla. (2005); Eddie Bridges of Greensboro, N.C. (2004); Sandi Beitzel of Manitowoc, Wis. (2003); Dr. Tommy Thompson of Monroe City, Ind. (2002); Bruce Lewis of Natchez, Miss. (2001); Tory Taylor of Dubois, Wyo. (2000); Gloria Erickson of Holdrege, Neb. (1999); Christine Thomas of Stevens-Point, Wis. (1998); Jeff Churan of Chilicothe, Mo. (1997); and Susan Moxley of Vickery, Ohio (1996).

Since Anheuser-Busch was founded in 1852, the company has been committed to supporting the environment and conserving natural resources. In 1995, the leading American brewer bolstered its support by creating the "Budweiser Outdoors" program.

The program has grown to include seven partner organizations -- the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl Foundation and the Quality Deer Management Association -- to promote outdoor sports and wildlife conservation.

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 48.4 percent share of U.S. beer sales. The company brews the world's largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser-Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico's leading brewer, and a 27 percent share in China brewer Tsingtao, whose namesake beer brand is the country's best-selling premium beer. Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired U.S. and Global Companies lists in 2007. Anheuser-Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world's largest recyclers of aluminum cans. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com.

Addendum to Release
COMMITMENT TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Lowell E. Baier has dedicated 37 years to wildlife conservation and is president of Boone & Crockett (B&C) Club, founded in 1887. Baier co-founded the National Capital Area Chapter of Safari Club International. He is Founding Charter Member No.14 of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, serving as an officer or board member for 15 years and national convention chairman from 1978 to 1981. He spearheaded the rescue and preservation of the National Collection of Head and Horns. For the last 25 years, he has played a key role in the renaissance of the B&C Club, a non-profit organization founded in 1887 by Theodore Roosevelt to establish a coalition of dedicated conservationists and sportsmen who would provide the leadership needed to address the issues that affect hunting, wildlife and wild habitat. Baier had a principal role in establishing a B&C post-graduate wildlife program at the University of Montana and in establishing the National Conservation Leadership Institute for mid-career government wildlife managers.

"It is with great humility that I accept this award not only for myself alone, but also for the other three nominees, for my brethren in the Boone and Crockett Club and all of our fellow stewards who labor selflessly in noble service to enhance our country's wildlife and natural resources," said Baier. "This award would have made Theodore Roosevelt, the founder of the Boone and Crockett Club, America's oldest wildlife conservation organization, immensely proud of his progeny."

Baier was the lead in drafting President G.H.W. Bush's wildlife conservation agenda, a delegate to the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation and on the U.S. Forest Service Centennial Steering Committee. He also spearheaded preserving the birthplace of conservation in America, Theodore Roosevelt's historic 23,550-acre Elkhorn Ranch in North Dakota in 2007.

"For almost the last three years, I've led the charge on behalf of the Boone and Crockett Club to acquire, preserve and protect Elkhorn Ranch, which comprises some 38 square miles immediately adjacent to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park," said Baier. "Proceeds from this award will go into the habitat restoration and interpretive fund for the Elkhorn Ranch, which Theodore Roosevelt established in 1884."

Three dedicated conservationists were selected alongside Baier as finalists for the award: Marion Burnside (Hopkins, S.C.), Dr. Jim Hulbert (Longview, Wash.) and Bernie Lemon (New Berlin, Wisc.). The three finalists, with background below, will each be honored with a $5,000 grant from Budweiser and the NFWF to be distributed to a wildlife or conservation project chosen mutually by the honoree, Budweiser and the NFWF:

Marion Burnside

Burnside has been involved in South Carolina's conservation and wildlife management programs for two decades, having first been appointed to the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Commission (now the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Board) in 1988. His leadership on the board has helped state wildlife managers stabilize the deer population. Burnside was also involved in the formation of the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) of South Carolina, the organization from which today's QDMA was born. For his work in the outdoors, Burnside has received numerous accolades, including QDMA's Joe Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, Columbia Ducks Unlimited Conservationist of the Year Award, the Quail Unlimited Havilah Babcock Award, South Carolina's Environmental Awareness Award and has been named to the Order of the Palmetto.

Dr. Jim Hulbert

Hulbert is a 33-year volunteer for Ducks Unlimited (DU). He just completed a two-year term as volunteer President of DU's 750,000 members. During that time, DU nearly doubled its volunteer ranks to 57,000 and started 600 new chapters. Under Hulbert's leadership, DU launched the largest conservation fundraising effort in history, its ambitious $1.7 billion Wetlands for Tomorrow campaign. Hulbert also helped identify DU's most important conservation initiatives, from the duck factories of the Prairie Pothole Region and the Boreal Forest, to restoring pintails and educating youth about conservation. Hulbert also led DU's efforts to increase federal support for wetlands and waterfowl conservation through legislation like the Farm Bill and Clean Water Restoration Act. He is a tireless volunteer for conservation.

Bernie Lemon

Lemon is best known by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF)'s 150,000 members as the man who spearheaded the reintroduction of elk in Wisconsin. Lemon helped launch the state's first RMEF chapter in 1987, and since its inception, the chapter has raised more than $1 million to support national elk activity. His support includes a collaboration with Wisconsin artist Terry Doughty that generated more than $500,000 necessary to relocate 25 elk in 1995 from Michigan back to the state. Lemon has served as a Wisconsin State Chair and Eastern Regional Chair for RMEF since 1996 and was recently named RMEF's Volunteer Ambassador, a position never before held in the organization's 24-year history. RMEF created the position to specifically honor Lemon's commitment and achievements.

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