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Minnesota State Representative Tom Hackbarth was recently honored with the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) State Legislator of the Year award. The award was presented to Tom by Sonia Bartz, BRC President, at the All-Terrain Vehicle Association of Minnesota's (ATVAM) 25th Anniversary celebration in Silver Bay, Minnesota, on Saturday, June 14th, 2008.
The BRC Board of Directors designed this award to recognize those individuals, organizations and businesses that have made a significant contribution to maintaining access and responsible use of OHVs on public lands. Nominations are received from across the nation and awarded annually after careful board review and approval.
"Tom Hackbarth has been a leader in Minnesota, protecting access and promoting responsible use of all motorized recreation over the past 9 years," stated Bartz. "As a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Committee and past Chair of the Environmental Policy Committee, Tom has actively partnered with individuals, clubs, state organizations, lobbyists and manufacturers to ensure that common sense legislation is authored, introduced and passed into law. In turn, he fights hard against extreme legislation which has negative impact to the environment, access and recreation."
On hand to assist in presenting the award, Tom Umphress, Secretary of NOHVCC and ARMCA Representative, concluded, "Tom is an outdoor enthusiast, recreationist and conservationist first and an elected representative second. He understands the issues from an enthusiast point of view. His common sense legislative approach balances the diverse needs of the recreational community while protecting and promoting responsible use of our public lands."
On receiving the award Rep. Hackbarth said “I am very proud and honored to be recognized by a national organization that I personally hold in very high regard. My passion to obtain, maintain, and protect access to our natural resources is always at the forefront of my mind as legislation moves through the process.”