SEWE: Cocktails and Conservation

As part of the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, G&G invites guests to the magazine’s headquarters for two compelling conversations on Southern ecology and conservation, complete with complimentary Shine Girl cocktails and culinary bites from Sevierville, Tennessee’s Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant. 

Saturday, February 15

G&G editor in chief David DiBenedetto chats with renowned outdoor artist Paul Puckett about the influence of the natural world on his art, the stories behind his pieces, and his experiences fly fishing across the globe.

About Puckett:

Paul Puckett, born in 1975 in Dallas, Texas, was raised in a creatively rich environment, influenced by his father’s passion for Flamenco guitar and his mother’s quilting artistry. Summers spent fishing with his grandfathers in East Texas shaped his lifelong love of the outdoors. After studying art at the University of North Texas, Puckett worked in Dallas’ fly fishing scene before moving to Jackson, Wyoming, where his love of nature deepened. Now based in Charleston, South Carolina, Puckett continues to blend his passions for art and fishing, enjoying Lowcountry life with his wife Sara and their two dogs, Norman and Willie Nelson.

Sunday, February 16

G&G contributing editor T. Edward Nickens speaks with Karen Waldrop, Ducks Unlimited chief conservation officer, about the present and future of conservation efforts for North America’s waterfowl, with a special emphasis on issues affecting the South.

About Waldrop:

Dr. Karen Waldrop is the chief conservation officer at Ducks Unlimited and a key member of its executive leadership team. She holds a Ph.D. in Wildlife Biology/Forest Sciences from Clemson University and an M.S. and B.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia. With extensive experience in waterfowl and migratory bird conservation, Waldrop previously served as deputy commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. She is also involved in several national conservation councils, including the North American Wetlands Conservation Council and the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Advisory Committee.