Awards

Roosevelt American Spirit Conservation Award

“In The Arena”

Presented To

Brett Wiedmann

The Midwest Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation recognizes and commends your courage, dedication, optimism, honor and compassion for significant scientific contributions to the preservation of North America’s wild sheep and individual commitment to ensure the health and welfare of wild sheep and wildlife conservation.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt April 23, 1910, Paris, France

March 16, 2024                                                                                                                                  Minnetonka, Minnesota

The program’s name was inspired by our 26^th President Theodore Roosevelt who exemplified courage, dedication, optimism, honor and compassion throughout his life. 

Teddy Roosevelt did more for the conservation of our natural resources and the preservation of sport hunting than any other person in the history of our nation. 

Teddy Roosevelt is often considered the “conservation president.” In the North Dakota Badlands, Roosevelt is remembered with a national park that bears his name and honors the memory of the original conservationist.

In 1887, he and his closest friends founded the Boone and Crockett Club – the nation’s oldest conservation organization. Under his direction as Club president and president of the United States, numerous laws and legislative actions protecting wildlife and natural resources were enacted. The creation of the U.S. Forest Service, the National Wildlife Refuge System and the National Park Service, which are among his most notable achievements, paved the way to ultimately setting aside tens of millions of acres for the benefit of wildlife, our nation, and future generations.  

On April 23, 1910 in Paris, France and a year after his second term ended, TR gave his most enduring speech: “Citizenship in the Republic”. This historical speech is the inspiration for our Roosevelt American Spirit Conservation Award named “In The Arena”.

He famously declared “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”     

The last native bighorn confirmed in North Dakota was killed in 1905. The state was without Bighorns for virtually 50 years. In 1956, ND G&F reintroduced Bighorns to ND, but it wasn’t until 1975 that the state opened a hunting season for Bighorns. 

The population struggled for decades, in the late 1990’s there was significant die-off which led to the state actively looking to move away from their bighorn sheep management efforts and focus on the state’s other big game species. The resources and effort needed to cultivate a healthy Bighorn Sheep population and program seemed unachievable and potentially could even be perceived by the general public as financially irresponsible. They knew it would take tremendous commitment, focus and financial strain to restore Bighorns back in those same places that Teddy Roosevelt once freely roamed and hunted this magnificent species.  

This idea of losing Bighorns did not sit well with some in North Dakota and many within the wild sheep hunting and conservation community. Walking away from this iconic species was simply not an option. 

It was evident, outside sources would need to be approached for additional funding. The state was simply not in position to hold a full-time dedicated position to wild sheep management. 

The Minnesota-Wisconsin Chapter of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep (Midwest Chapter WSF) was asked to contribute to this new goal of stabilizing and repopulating Bighorn Sheep in North Dakota. The ask certainly fit the chapter’s mission statement, but the ask was significant for a relatively small organization that operated on a year to year budget.     

Our chapter and others within the conservation community knew this would take a long-term investment. They believed that the goals of a healthy Bighorn Sheep population in ND were achievable, but more importantly, they knew this would not happen without an extraordinary individual to implement a new Bighorn Sheep program and someone that could stay the course. 

In 2006 and 2007 Brett Wiedmann, ND’s Bighorn Sheep Biologist and Program Manager lead the re-introduction of Bighorns into the Badlands from Montana. He and others have stated that this was a significant turning point for Bighorn Sheep in ND. The re-introduction of Bighorns from Montana was strategic. There were several key elements in the success of this re-introduction; it’s not uncommon for wildlife to struggle acclimating to a new and unfamiliar landscape. The fact that these Bighorns were coming from a similar landscape that shared a climate with similar seasons and the alike types of forage. All these elements together have been important factors in what is now a healthy, productive herd with good lamb recruitment and an aging population.   

It hasn’t been without challenges though, in 2014 ND had a disease outbreak with some losses in adults, followed by low lamb recruitment for a few years. Through extensive monitoring and a focused management plan, the losses were minimized and those affected herds have been able to rebound back and lamb recruitment has been a positive result. 

With recent Bighorn counts in the Badlands of North Dakota, there is reason to believe that the population has reached its highest population in over 150 years.   

Brett Wiedmann is highly regarded as a leading authority in wild sheep management in North America. His expertise is highly sought after and he has collaborated with many state and federal agencies and professionals throughout the western United States, Canada and Mexico.  

As late as January of 2020, Brett lead another successful re-location of Bighorns from Montana to the Badlands of North Dakota. These Bighorns were relocated unto the Three Affiliated Tribes Reservation. The Tribes quickly recognized the value of collaborating with Brett and Brett plays a vital role in the tribe’s bighorn program.   

Just in the last few seasons, new state record Bighorn rams have been taken, along with many rams that have reached exceptional trophy size. Setting new state records is not the goal or purpose of ND’ Bighorn Sheep management program, the state records are simply a reflection of a well-managed program.   

Mr. Bruce Stillings, North Dakota’s Game & Fish Department’s – Big Game Management Supervisor; “Through Brett’s dedication and passion, North Dakota’s Bighorn Sheep program is a model that is looked to by many state agencies throughout the west. His extensive monitoring and attention to detail has advanced our Bighorn herd’s health, age structure and populations significantly. Our herds are doing well, and it’s not by accident!” 

When speaking about Teddy Roosevelt’s influence and contribution to American conservation, it is often said, he was the right guy at the right time. It also can be said, when speaking about contributions to wild sheep in North Dakota, Brett Wiedmann was and is the right guy at the right time.

Congratulations Brett, Well Done!   ~ Midwest Chapter WSF