California Resident Receives Annie Oakley Award
For Sandy McCain of Hart Flat, Calif., the outdoors means family time. Outdoor activities, such as hunting and fishing, give families a single direction they can move in together, she said. And she wants to make sure mom has a part in it all.

For her commitment to bringing traditional outdoors activities to hundreds of women through the NWTF's Women in the Outdoors program, McCain earned the 2006 Annie Oakley Award. Just as the world-famous sureshot spent the better part of her life as an ambassador for shooting sports, McCain has spent the last five years spreading the story of wildlife conservation and making outdoor recreation available to women.

"Men are more used to being outdoors," McCain told a reporter from The Bakersfield Californian. "Years ago, on the farm, boys were attached to their dads all the time. Girls had different roles. But those days are gone--or should be."

Many NWTF volunteers, including McCain, were honored during a ceremony at the 30th annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show held Feb. 23 to Feb. 26 in Nashville, Tenn. McCain is a Women in the Outdoors volunteer with the Bakersfield NWTF Chapter, organizing their record-breaking women's event held annually at the Tejon Ranch in Kern County. Under her leadership, the event has consistently pulled in record attendance every year, namely more than 300 in 2005.

McCain not only organizes the event, she teaches the archery class, too. No big deal for 10-time national archery champion who was inducted into the California Archery Hall of Fame in 1998. McCain says the sport has given her so much over the years that she wanted to share the benefits with others, especially women who were not exposed to the field and stream lifestyle growing up.

"Sandy is a fine Christian woman who wants to share her love of the outdoors with everyone she meets," said Sue Krause, Women in the Outdoors volunteer. "Her enthusiasm and energy are contagious; her joy is undeniable. Sandy loves God, people, the outdoors, and teaching others about it all. I know of no other person who is more deserving of this honor."