As part of the SCIF-Sables University program, students from Auburn University and its Wildlife Enterprise Program recently attended the 2025 SCI Convention. Sponsors of the event Holland and Carolyn Powell along with the Sables provided lodging, day passes and breakfast for these students to attend the convention with day passes on Saturday. The students were accompanied by Dr. Todd Franks, Professor of Practice in the College of Forestry Wildlife and Environment at Auburn & Program Coordinator of the Wildlife Enterprise Program.
Assisted by SCIF Assistant Director of Education Todd Roggenkamp, students and Dr. Franks met with the Powells Saturday morning in the SCIF Patron’s Lounge for breakfast. Following this the students were taken to the showroom floor where they met with staff from Champion Ranch and Prophet Muskwa to ask questions and gain a better understanding of how both respective outfitters manage their businesses. Students were then allowed to spend the remainder of the day exploring the showroom floor and interacting with other outfitters and industry leaders to learn more about the career path they intend to follow. This component of SCI Foundation’s university program is focused on providing college students pursuing a career in the wildlife enterprise industry an opportunity to network with professionals in their industry.
As a continuation of this learning process, guest speakers from several outfitting companies from throughout North America have committed to presenting a series of webinars in March 2025 for these students and an additional cohort of Wildlife Enterprise students at Auburn. They will provide information on the regional differences and challenges that come with managing a facility and its land for conservation and hunting. The final activity of this program will be a hands-on tour of the 5-Star Preserve in Kellyton, Alabama April 8, 2025. Students will learn first-hand how it is operated and managed by meeting with key personnel throughout the tour.
SCIF-Sables and the Powells are excited to provide this program opportunity with Auburn University and Dr. Franks. Education of tomorrow’s professional hunters, lodge managers and wildlife entrepreneurs is extremely important to ensuring stability in the industry. If you or someone you know is interested in working with SCIF and Sables to support future university programming, please contact Assistant Director of Education, Todd Roggenkamp at 520-954-0664 or troggenkamp@scifirstforhunters.org.
