2024 PA Wilds Champions receive awards at July 25 dinner

Event honors organizations and individuals throughout rural 13-county PA Wilds region

BRADFORD, PA – On July 25, the ten recipients of the 2024 Champions of the Pennsylvania Wilds Awards were recognized for their efforts to help grow and sustainably develop the region’s outdoor recreation economy and nature tourism. 

Approximately 200 people from across the 13-county PA Wilds region and Harrisburg gathered to celebrate the award winners during the 2024 PA Wilds Dinner & Awards, which was held at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The theme for this year’s dinner was “The Road Less Traveled Makes All the Difference,” nodding to the Declaration of Principles for the Pennsylvania Wilds.

The Champion of the Pennsylvania Wilds Awards celebrate individuals, groups, organizations, communities and businesses that in the last year have made significant contributions to the region’s outdoor recreation economy, helping to create jobs, diversify local economies, inspire stewardship and improve quality of life.

Award winners, announced in May, include: Artisan of the Year, Lynn Kibbe; Best Brand Ambassador, Starr Hill Vineyard and Winery; Business of the Year, Mountain Top and Provisions; Conservation Stewardship, Watershed Conservation Program of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy; Event of the Year, Jakes Rocks Trail Fest; Great Design, Bald Birds Brewing; Great Places, Zippo/Case Museum; Inspiring Youth, Brandy Schimp and Kane PTO; Outstanding Leader, Joshua Zucal; and PA Wilds Planning Team Member of the Year, Will Hunt.

“We took the road less traveled and, 20 years into this, it has made all the difference,” said Ta Enos, Founder and CEO of the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, alluding to the theme of this year’s dinner. “Honoring our past, lifting up local businesses, working across traditional lines, creating and innovating, leveraging partner strengths… these things take time, but they are what makes this work special and impactful, and these things have turned our collective approach into a nationally recognized model.”

The awards were created by Don Luke of DLE Designs, a professional level Creative Maker in the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania (WCO) network. Based in Lycoming County, DLE Designs expertly crafted the wooden plaques with laser cut designs, featuring the winners’ names and the PA Wilds logo. The plaques were made from oak hardwood from a property in Waterville, PA, meaning that all of the lumber for the awards was harvested and milled within the PA Wilds region.

During the social hour preceding the dinner, attendees enjoyed the displays set up by vendors and exhibitors inside the University Room, including: Artwork by Julie Mader, Conklin Studio Pottery, Ellen Paquette Art, Jessie Vaughn, PA Wilds Conservation Shop, Rosie Marketing, Splishy Splash Craft, Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, The Center for Rural PA, the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Keystone Trails Association, Lumber Heritage Region, Marc Wilken – Economic Recovery Corps, Northcentral PA Conservancy, PA Firefly Festival, PA Route 6 Alliance, Warren County Chamber of Business & Industry, Warren County Visitors Bureau, and Western PA Conservancy. 

In addition, Starr Hill Winery offered tastings and sold to-go bottles of Squatch-N-Berry huckleberry wine, which was a licensed collaboration with the PA Wilds Center. Bradford Brew Station was also on hand to provide a cash bar with their locally crafted beers.

Catering this year was provided by Metz Catering Services at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, with herb-roasted chicken and a vegetarian butternut manicotti with sage cream, complimented by a caesar salad, marinated grilled vegetables, smashed potatoes, and yellow cake with white frosting for dessert. 

The honorary host of the night was Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, which provided a bag of goodies for each attendee, including ANFVB brochures and visitor guides, coupons and info about local McKean County businesses, and a special ANF-themed wooden fridge magnet from Elk & Walnut.

Many elected officials and community leaders attended the event, including several county commissioners from around the PA Wilds area, community organization and nonprofit leaders, as well as state Sen. Cris Dush, state Rep. Mike Armanini, an aide from state Sen. Gene Yaw’s office, an aide from state Rep. Martin Causer’s office, an aide from Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson’s office, and an aide from Sen. Bob Casey’s office.

 

2024 AWARD WINNERS

Artisan of the Year Award: Lynn Kibbe – Trout Run, Lycoming County – presented by Libby Bloomquist, Sustainable Commerce Director for the PA Wilds Center

Lynn Kibbe was selected as the recipient of the 2024 PA Wilds Artisan of the Year Champion Award. The Artisan of the Year Award honors a PA Wilds Juried Artisan who has gone above and beyond to use their medium and creativity to promote the region or help advance The Wilds Cooperative of PA. Kibbe is a professional Visual Artisan in the Wilds Cooperative of PA who specializes in the art of scratchboard, in which parts of a dark board are scraped away little by little to create the artwork. Her subjects are almost exclusively wildlife and nature. Kibbe herself is a living example of being able to follow a dream as an artisan in a rural place, having left her job as a paralegal to pursue scratchboard art full-time. Kibbe is an advocate for the PA Wilds region and the Wilds Cooperative of PA, often speaking about it during her regional exhibits, workshops, and teaching seminars. Kibbe also sells her products on the PA Wilds Marketplace at ShopThePAWilds.com.

From left: Sen. Bob Casey’s aide Liz Cooper, award presenter Libby Bloomquist (Sustainable Commerce Director for the PA Wilds Center, award recipient Lynn Kibbe, Congressman Glenn Thompson’s aide Brad Moore, state Sen. Gew Yaw’s aide Nick Troutman, Shane Oschman (Chair of the PA Wilds Board of Directors)

 

Best Brand Ambassador: Starr Hill Vineyard and Winery – Curwensville, Clearfield County – presented by Hannah Brock, Licensing Manager for the PA Wilds Center

Starr Hill Vineyard and Winery has won the 2024 PA Wilds Best Brand Ambassador Champion Award for their recent Squatch N Berry wine collaboration. The Best Brand Ambassador Award honors an organization or individual who has made significant contributions to promote and develop the PA Wilds brand through logo use, place name recognition, branded product development, storytelling, event or experience packaging or similar efforts. The playful theme of Sasquatch in Starr Hill’s huckleberry-flavored grape wine acknowledges the popularity of the cryptid. The wine was so popular that it is now being produced in cans, along with the traditional bottles. In addition to raising awareness about the PA Wilds through its distribution, a portion of proceeds from each Squatch N Berry sold supports the mission of the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, which is to integrate conservation and economic development in a way that strengthens and inspires communities of the PA Wilds region. 

From left: Shane Oschman (Chair of the PA Wilds Board of Directors), Sen. Bob Casey’s aide Liz Cooper, Congressman Glenn Thompson’s aide Brad Moore, award recipient Kenn Starr, award recipient Ken Starr, state Rep. Mike Armanini

 

Business of the Year: Mountain Top and Provisions – Haneyville, Clinton County – presented by Matt Marusiak, Land Protection Manager for the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Mountain Top and Provisions has been named the recipient of the 2024 PA Wilds Business of the Year Champion Award, which honors a new or existing business that has taken bold steps to grow their business in a way that embodies what it means to marry conservation and economic development and to offer an authentic experience or product to visitors and residents. This restaurant and market offers live-fire cooking and smoked foods, smoked only with Pennsylvania hardwoods. The wooden walls and rafters of the building reflect the beauty and lumber heritage of the PA Wilds, inspired by the mess halls of the lumber era. Mountain Top and Provisions operates as a central hub for outdoor enthusiasts, providing tasty meals, events and live music, and recommendations for experiences around the region.

From left: Sen. Bob Casey’s aide Liz Cooper, Shane Oschman (Chair of the PA Wilds Board of Directors), state Sen. Cris Dush, Rich Wykoff (Director of the Greater Renovo Area Heritage Park) accepting award on behalf of Mountain Top and Provision, Rick Vilello (Deputy Secretary Community Affairs and Development of the PA Department of Community and Economic Development), Congressman Glenn Thompson’s aide Brad Moore

 

Conservation Stewardship: Watershed Conservation Program of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy – Offices in Elk County and Indiana County, serving the Upper Allegheny and West Branch Susquehanna regions – presented by LaKeshia Knarr, Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Director for the PA Wilds Center

The Watershed Conservation Program of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy was selected as the recipient of the 2024 PA Wilds Conservation Stewardship Champion Award, which honors the best practices and achievements of an individual, business or organization that demonstrates a commitment to conservation and outstanding resource stewardship of the natural and cultural assets in the PA Wilds. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) Elk County office serves the Upper Allegheny and West Branch Susquehanna regions, coordinating with county, state, and federal agencies and local non-government conservation organizations to improve public lands throughout the PA Wilds region through a variety of projects, programs and services. WPC improves aquatic organism habitat in state parks, on game lands, and in the Allegheny National Forest. WPC has implemented numerous stream-crossing replacements and has installed traditional stream habitat improvement structures on game lands and state parks. WPC has completed more than 1,500 assessments of road-stream intersections in the PA Wilds region, collaborated with stakeholders to restore aquatic organism passage at more than 15 locations and worked with partners to complete abandoned mine land and abandoned mine drainage projects.  Recently WPC was awarded $1.9 million in funding from the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation to construct an AMD treatment system on West Creek in Saint Marys, the result of a years-long effort led by the Elk County Conservation District. WPC has also funded 28 public access improvement projects in the PA Wilds through the Canoe Access Development Fund.

From left: Shane Oschman (Chair of the PA Wilds Board of Directors), Sen. Bob Casey’s aide Liz Cooper, Congressman Glenn Thompson’s aide Brad Moore, award recipient Kylie Maland (Conservancy Watershed Manager for WPC), award recipient Luke Bobnar (Watershed Project Manager for WPC), state Rep. Mike Armanini, state Sen. Cris Dush, award presenter LaKeshia Knarr (Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Director for the PA Wilds Center)

 

Event of the Year: Jakes Rocks Trail Fest – Warren, Warren County – presented by Nathan Reigner, Director of Outdoor Recreation for the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

The Jakes Rocks Trail Fest earned the 2024 PA Wilds Event of the Year Champion Award, which recognizes a festival, race, art show or other local or regional event in the PA Wilds which through its quality and authenticity and use of the PA Wilds brand has become a regional attraction that is having a positive economic and social impact on the area. The Trails at Jakes Rocks, where the festival is held, draws in more than 30,000 people annually to Warren County and is a star asset in the PA Wilds. The Jakes Rocks Trail Fest is in its 8th year in 2024 and has seen the number of participants grow to a record high of more than 700 people in 2023. The event continues to grow, positively impacting the local economy during the entire weekend. The Trails at Jakes Rocks utilizes local, regional, and national partners and encompasses 35.2 miles of world-class trails in the heart of the Allegheny National Forest and the PA Wilds. The trail was named as the 2024 Pennsylvania Trail of the Year, highlighting its popularity with mountain bikers, hikers, and nature lovers.

From left: Shane Oschman (Chair of the PA Wilds Board of Directors), Casey Ferry (Director of Warren County Visitors Bureau), Warren County Commissioner Dan Glotz, Jim Decker (President and CEO of Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry), Savannah Casey (Director of Operations for Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry), Congressman Glenn Thompson’s aide Brad Moore, Sen. Bob Casey’s aide Liz Cooper, award presenter Nathan Reigner (Director of Outdoor Recreation for the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources)

 

Great Design: Bald Birds Brewing Company – Jersey Shore, Lycoming County – presented by John Lavelle, Deputy Director of Lycoming County Planning and Community Development Department

Bald Birds Brewing Company in Jersey Shore is the winner of the 2024 PA Wilds Great Design Champion Award, which honors an individual, business or organization that has done outstanding work to preserve, protect or enhance an area’s rural community character and to promote the use and understanding of the PA Wilds Design Guide. Bald Birds is located in the 153,000-square-foot former Woolrich warehouse. Bald Birds transformed the former warehouse into a brewery-goer’s paradise. The facility is home to a 7,000-square-foot taproom, a 10,000-square-foot wedding and event venue, outdoor seating and gaming areas, two golf simulators, and a 90,000-square-foot production brewery. The creative adaptive reuse of the former warehouse helped lessen the impact of development on the natural environment, and the design incorporates overhangs, recessed openings, and other features like stylistic garage bay doors to emphasize the entrance areas and create connectivity between indoor/outdoor spaces. These efforts are directly in line with recommendations in the PA Wilds Design Guide for Community Character Stewardship. The building successfully pays homage to Jersey Shore’s history and industry, while envisioning the warehouse with a new tourism and hospitality angle. Bald Birds Brewing hosted the PA Wilds Dinner & Awards banquet in 2022.

From left: Shane Oschman (Chair of the PA Wilds Board of Directors), award presenter John Lavele (Deputy Director of Lycoming County Planning and Community Development Department), Sen. Bob Casey’s aide Liz Cooper, award recipient Joe Feerrar (owner of Bald Birds Brewing), Congressman Glenn Thompson’s aide Brad Moore, state Sen. Gew Yaw’s aide Nick Troutman

 

Great Places: Zippo/Case Museum – Bradford, McKean County – presented by Abbi Peters, Founding COO of the PA Wilds Center

The Zippo/Case Museum in Bradford earned the 2024 PA Wilds Great Places Champion Award, which honors innovative asset development and promotion that have worked together to create an excellent new or revamped sustainable tourism destination within the PA Wilds. The Zippo/Case Museum tells the story of two American icons – both based in Bradford, PA – through an extensive collection of priceless Zippo and Case artifacts. The museum’s exhibits include the very first Zippo lighter, an exploration of Zippo and Case’s American military history, the world-famous Zippo Repair Clinic, and a replica of the first knife to go to the moon! The Zippo/Case Museum hosts more than 50,000 visitors annually, bringing visitors to the PA Wilds and encouraging them to explore the history and innovation of the region.

From left: Shane Oschman (Chair of the PA Wilds Board of Directors), Rustin Lippincott (Executive Director of the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau), Sen. Bob Casey’s aide Liz Cooper, Katie Zapel (Archives Manager of Zippo), Kyle Kleiderlein of Zippo, state Rep. Martin Causer’s aide Jennifer Stillman, award recipient Brent Tyler (Zippo Manufacturing Company & WR Case and Sons Cutlery Company’s Associate Vice President of Marketing), Congressman Glenn Thompson’s aide Brad Moore, award presenter Abbi Peters (Founding COO of PA Wilds Center), state Sen. Cris Dush

 

Inspiring Youth: Brandy Schimp and Kane PTO – Kane, McKean County – presented by Elisha Pospisil, PA Wilds Center Board Member and Director of Curriculum and Technology for Forest Area School District

Brandy Schimp, the mayor of Kane, and the Kane Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) have been named the recipients of the 2024 PA Wilds Inspiring Youth Champion Award, which honors a person or organization that has made outstanding contributions to involve young people in the work to grow the region’s outdoor recreation economy and to conserve its unparalleled natural and cultural resource assets. In addition to being mayor, Schimp serves as the PTO President. In 2023, the Kane PTO revamped the annual Christmas Store in the elementary school, focusing on the importance of buying locally and supporting artists within the PA Wilds. Instead of purchasing low-quality items online for students to buy for Christmas presents, they collaborated with artists in the PA Wilds. The PTO purchased small items from these artists and offered items at different price points so every student could buy something. The artists were compensated, and students got the chance to learn more about how spending dollars locally helps the Kane economy. The PTO was also fortunate enough to receive funding from a generous donor that allowed each child to have $5 to spend at the store, ensuring all students could shop for their families and have a positive learning and gifting experience.

From left: Shane Oschman (Chair of the PA Wilds Board of Directors), Rustin Lippincott (Executive Director of the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau), Kane Area School District Superintendent Jeannine Kloss, Kane Area Elementary School Principal Shannon Olson, Sen. Bob Casey’s aide Liz Cooper, Congressman Glenn Thompson’s aide Brad Moore, award presenter Elisha Pospisil (PA Wilds Center Board Member and Director of Curriculum and Technology for Forest Area School District), award recipient Brandy Schimp (Kane Mayor), Joe Lanich (co-owner of Laughing Owl Press), state Rep. Martin Causer’s aide Jennifer Stillman, state Sen. Cris Dush

 

Outstanding Leader: Joshua Zucal – Emporium, Cameron County – presented by Meredith Hill, Acting Deputy Secretary for Conservation and Technical Services who leads DCNR’s PA Wilds Conservation Landscape program

Joshua Zucal has been named the 2024 PA Wilds Outstanding Leader Champion Award recipient. The Outstanding Leader Award honors a person, organization, business or elected official that has used their platform to advocate for outdoor recreation economic growth in the PA Wilds as a way to create jobs, diversify local economies, inspire stewardship and improve quality of life. Zucal is in his first year as a Cameron County Commissioner, and prior to being elected he served as the Marketing Director for the county. Some of his efforts included the Look Up Cameron County campaign, encouraging travelers to view the stars in Cameron County, and he is actively developing a location near Emporium as a Dark Sky viewing area. Zucal has also worked to improve and designate gravel roads as biking opportunities in Cameron County. As an entrepreneur, Zucal and his wife also run two businesses and contribute to the Cameron County economy.

From left: Shane Oschman (Chair of the PA Wilds Board of Directors), state Sen. Cris Dush, Sen. Bob Casey’s aide Liz Cooper, award presenter Meredith Hill (Acting Deputy Secretary for Conservation and Technical Services who leads DCNR’s PA Wilds Conservation Landscape program), award recipient Joshua Zucal, state Rep. Martin Causer’s aide Jennifer Stillman, Congressman Glenn Thompson’s aide Brad Moore

 

PA Wilds Planning Team Member of the Year: Will Hunt – Potter County – presented by Candace Hillyard, PA Wilds Planning Team Vice-Chair and Director of Route 6 Alliance

Will Hunt is the recipient of the 2024 PA Wilds Planning Team Member of the Year Champion Award, which honors individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the work of the PA Wilds Planning Team. In his role as Potter County Planner, GIS, and Community Development Director, Hunt oversees the Potter County Planning, Community Development and GIS Department and various efforts to create new and unique economic opportunities for the county. As an advocate of outdoor recreation and preservation of the character of the PA Wilds, he organized the ATV taskforce which engages regional partners and stakeholders, ensuring a thoughtful balance of outdoor recreation within the landscape. Hunt has also developed the county’s land use ordinance to incorporate PA Wilds Design Guide standards, ensuring the preservation of the community’s dark skies and natural beauty. He serves as a core member and current chair of the PA Wilds Planning Team, one of the largest and longest-standing governance structures around the PA Wilds effort. The Planning Team, formed in 2006 through a groundbreaking Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement (ICA), brings together the region’s county governments, and many other economic development and conservation partners to work on regional planning related to outdoor recreation development.

From left: Potter County Commissioner Robert Rossman, state Sen. Cris Dush, award presenter Candace Hillyard (PA Wilds Planning Team Vice-Chair and Director of Route 6 Alliance), Matt Carson (family friend of Will Hunt), Amanda Carson (family friend of Will Hunt), Nicole Hunt (wife of Will Hunt), award recipient Will Hunt, state Rep. Martin Causer’s aide Jennifer Stillman, Congressman Glenn Thompson’s aide Brad Moore, Sen. Bob Casey’s aide Liz Cooper, John Lavelle (PA Wilds Planning Team member and Deputy Director of Lycoming County Planning and Community Development Department)

 

SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

The event photographer was Rosie Marketing, a professional level Creative Maker in the WCO that is based out of Warren County. Rosie Marketing was selected through a competitive bid process.

Find the full photo album at www.PAWildsCenter.org/program.

 

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CHAMPIONS?

Each year the PA Wilds Center recognizes individuals, groups, organizations, communities, and businesses that in the last year have made significant contributions to help grow and sustainably develop the outdoor recreation economy and nature tourism in the PA Wilds by marrying economic development and conservation goals. These prestigious awards are presented at the Center’s dinner.

Learn more about the 2024 PA Wilds Champion Award winners at www.PAWildsCenter.org/champions.

 

NOMINATE A PA WILDS CHAMPION FOR 2025!

Do you know a business, individual, group or organization who has made significant contributions to help grow and sustainably develop the outdoor recreation economy and nature tourism in the PA Wilds? There are nine award categories open for public nominations. Nominations submitted before 5:00 PM ET April 7, 2025, will be considered for 2025 PA Wilds Champion Awards.

Nominate someone for the 2025 PA Wilds Champion Awards at www.PAWildsCenter.org/nominate/.

 

ABOUT THE PA WILDS

The Pennsylvania Wilds is a 13-county region that includes the counties of Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Warren, and northern Centre. The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc., is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to integrate conservation and economic development in a way that inspires the communities of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The PA Wilds Center promotes the region and its 2+ million acres of public lands as a premier outdoor recreation destination as a way to diversify local economies, inspire stewardship, attract investment, retain population and improve quality of life. The PA Wilds Center’s core programs seek to help businesses leverage the PA Wilds brand and connect with new market opportunities, including: the Wilds Cooperative of PA, a network of more than 575 place-based businesses and organizations, and the PA Wilds Conservation Shop, a retail outlet primarily featuring products sourced from the WCO. For more information on the PA Wilds Center, visit www.PAWildsCenter.org. To learn more about the WCO, visit www.WildsCoPA.org. Explore the PA Wilds at www.PAWilds.com. Find regionally made products at www.ShopThePAWilds.com. 

 

Media Contact

Britt Madera | Communications Manager

PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.

[email protected] | 570-948-1051