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Larry and Brenda Potterfield |
MidwayUSA and
the NWTF
More than a sponsorship, it's a partnership
The following is an excerpt from the keynote address of MidwayUSA CEO and Founder Larry Potterfield (pictured here with his wife, Brenda) at the NWTF Convention and Sport Show.
My wife, Brenda, and I have been married for more than 40 years. We've been running the MidwayUSA business together since 1977.
During all those years, Brenda has never been behind me; she has almost always been at my side, helping me make important decisions. In those cases where she was not at my side, she was way out in front making those important decisions for me.
I may be the one standing here tonight, but most of the credit for my success goes to Brenda.
MidwayUSA is the official sponsor of this convention. They call it a sponsorship when you give an organization a bunch of money and they plaster your name everywhere. George Thornton and his outstanding team and on a pretty good job of plastering the MidwayUSA name just about everywhere.
Thanks George, but I want you to know that MidwayUSA thinks of this as more of a partnership than a sponsorship.
There's a whole lot more of the National Wild Turkey Federation than putting on this grand convention. What the NWTF has done and continues to do for wildlife conservation is truly outstanding.
Your JAKES and Xtreme JAKES are two of America's leading youth development programs. I think everyone should be an NWTF member, because the NWTF is changing the future.
Just like the Second Amendment guarantees the rest of the Bill of Rights in our Constitution, today's youth guarantee our future. If we want to change the future, we must, we must invest in our youth.
Brenda and I love this convention. We see more young people here than at any other convention. Wouldn't it be great if we brought in two busloads of high school kids each day, gave them the wildlife conservation message, showed them a good time and changed their lives?
We can do that for perhaps $25 a student. So Brenda I would like to give a gift to the NWTF that would forever endow this wildlife conservation experience. We're going to give $400,000 to the NWTF to ensure that this can happen.
It's good for America, as it will always be the greatest nation on earth. America is first in freedom, first in democracy, first in education and productivity, first in ethical conduct and first in generosity.
I know this sounds like something from an election year. The elections were last year, and besides, I'm not running for office. But I do believe that to achieve our vision, America needs the National Wild Turkey Federation. America needs the National Rifle Association. And we need all of you here tonight.
Being the greatest nation on earth isn't a birthright. It requires our heart, our continuous effort in supporting the things we value and our vision. Our elected officials in Washington will not deliver our vision. The responsibility lies squarely on the shoulders on each of us here tonight.
Most of us are living the American dream. We have house payments, car payments and tuition payments, and we still have enough money left over to go hunting and fishing. For me, that's the American dream. But it's important for us to remember if we want our children and grandchildren to be able to go hunting and fishing, we must help change the future with our time and our money by generously supporting the National Wild Turkey Federation, the National Rifle Association and other key conservation groups, like the 4-H shooting sports and Boy Scouts of America. These organizations are changing the future.
America needs the NWTF. America needs the NRA. I challenge each of you to support these organizations with your time and your money. These organizations are changing the future to help ensure America will always be the greatest nation on earth.
I'm Larry Potterfield with MidwayUSA. Thanks for your business.