Easterly family announces memorial award recipients

Eason Peterson and Kyston Rolema of Worland, Tristin Zierlein of Ten Sleep and Charlee Welling of Cowley are this year’s recipients of the Tom Easterly Memorial Award.  Each earned a Lifetime Wyoming Game Bird/Small Game and Conservation Stamp, valued at approximately $500.

The awards honor the former Greybull-based wildlife biologist’s personal and professional interest in upland game bird management, game bird hunting and hunter recruitment.  He died in 2014

Tom’s brother Bill, who lives in Colorado, typically presents the awards during PEAKS to Conga weekend, but he was unable to attend this year.  

Eight people applied this year.

“Tough choice as always,” Bill said. “All were good, strong candidates, and I find it hard to send out a letter informing young people they were not selected. They are all winners. 

“We (the Easterly family) also hope this may inspire maybe just one person to possibly step into a career in the field of wildlife conservation and someday fill Tom’s shoes.”

The future

Bill Robertson, a former Greybull game warden who served alongside Easterly, said 29 young people have received Easterly awards since the program was established in 2018.

“Next year may be the last year we do it,” he said. “We can probably only fund another four; then we’ll be at the end of our funding.”

Robertson said anyone wishing to donate to keep the program going is welcome to contact him.