Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife Awards Top-Performing Employees

(UNDATED) – Each year, the Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife awards its top-performing employees for their contributions to conservation, mentoring, and teamwork. The 2019 winners this year were:


Josh Griffin – Fish & Wildlife Mentor Award
Josh serves as the Private Lands Program Manager, creating opportunities for private landowners to take part in wildlife conservation directly through habitat restoration and management. Josh played an integral role in developing programs such as the Indiana Community Hunting Access Program and Grasslands for Gamebirds and Songbirds Initiative.
Andrew Fairchild – Fish & Wildlife Conservation Cornerstone Award
Andrew is an irreplaceable member of the Roush Lake Fish & Wildlife Area team. He stepped up when positions were left vacant and helped train new employees. He aided management by being flexible, sometimes working the shooting range during holidays. Andy is the go-to guy for most issues on the property and is dedicated to serving the public.
The Walleye Crew – Director’s Team of the Year Award
Walleye broodstock collection is an annual event at Brookville Lake that supports the statewide walleye and saugeye stocking program. The team aims to collect 35 million walleye eggs, which normally takes at least 15 consecutive days with four crews.
The past year was brutal. Despite the rain and equipment issues, staff managed to take just under 38 million eggs in only eight days. Nearly five million eggs were stripped per day.
Olivia Vaught – Fish & Wildlife Conservation Champion
During her three years as the assistant deer biologist, Olivia has provided outstanding service to both the resource and the public. Her commitment is often seen not only in the long hours she works but also in the tasks she undertakes and the level of responsibility they require. In 2018, Olivia helped establish CWD surveillance programs, took on a leadership role with the Conservation Appreciation event committee, and authored several sections of the new comprehensive deer report.

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