Henri Wedell

Roughly a decade ago, Henri Wedell traveled to Cando, N.D., looking to buy a farm with potholes where he could raise ducks-ducks that would help add to the same flock he happily hunted from his entire life. Little did he know that his urge to give back would align him with a like-minded waterfowl hunting and conservation organization: Delta Waterfowl. It was in North Dakota that he stumbled upon three trappers performing predator management, as well as Delta students doing fieldwork.

"What I learned from them about Delta impressed me," Wedell said. "They really piqued my interest."

Intrigued by Delta Waterfowl's research and duck management programs, Wedell began sending regular contributions to help fund the work. Most recently, the 72-year­old Florida resident made a matching gift of$25,000 to the Minnedosa Duck Club, a Memphis-based group of Delta Waterfowl supporters.

That was only the latest contribution in many years of giving for the retired stockbroker and financial advisor. A past member of Delta's board of directors, Wedell knows he made a sound investment in helping Delta Waterfowl secure the future of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting.

"I've been an avid duck hunter all my life," he said. "I lived in Denmark three months a year as a kid and learned to hunt ducks there. Now, I hunt at least 40 days out of the season here in the United States."

Wedell is a true champion of predator management. "I have a farm in Arkansas where I duck hunt and three farms in North Dakota with grassland easements that I pay trappers to manage for ducks," he said. "Giving to Delta Waterfowl is money well spent."- Tyler Shoberg

Spring 2014