Deltans recognized with Outstanding Sportsman Awards
1/17/2020 8:18:24 AM
From MDWFP
The Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks awarded Outstanding Sportsman Awards to John Ruskey and Stephanie McGarrh during their monthly meeting in Cleveland on January 15. This award recognized their achievements as outdoorsmen, sportsmen, and promoters of wildlife and natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation.
Ruskey is the founder of the renowned Quapaw Canoe Company based in Clarksdale and he is also a river guide for the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Ruskey incorporates his love of the Mississippi River through his writings, art, and documentary film work. In a recent issue of Mississippi Outdoors magazine, Ruskey said, “Modern civilization has grown away from connections to the Earth, but we always have been and we always will be deeply connected to the wild power of nature.”
“I don’t know anyone else in our region or state who has promoted the Mississippi River and its beauty like John has,” said Commission Chairman Scott Coopwood of Cleveland who presented the awards. “Many people from all over the country and from around the world have enjoyed his river guiding services and that has been important to Delta tourism. Furthermore, he has introduced countless school children to the river taking them on overnight excursions and without John, most of these young people would have never had the opportunity to spend time on this great body of water."
Commission Chairman Scott Coopwood with John Ruskey
McGarrh is a registered nurse and avid hunter from Cleveland. She has been hunting since she was 5 years old. Recognized as an expert bowhunter, McGarrh harvested a buck worthy of a Pope & Young listing (144 7/8 inches) in the 2013-14 season. She also was acknowledged as one of the “Women in the Woods” by Delta Magazine. The article said McGarrh’s most significant challenge of being a hunter is balancing her role as a nurse, mother, and wife with the work that comes with hunting: scouting, putting out preseason cameras and finding time practice shooting her bow in the off-season. Over the years, McGarrh has also been known for aggressively documenting her hunting activities and bowhunting in general on social media.
“Stephanie’s accomplishments in whitetail bow hunting are well-known the Mississippi Delta,” said Coopwood. “She is a great ambassador for women hunters and she enjoys sharing her hobby and teaching others.”
Commission Chairman Scott Coopwood with Stephanie McGarrh
