SCI Announces 2025 Elected Officials of the Year Awardees

Safari Club International (SC) is proud to select the following individuals as the 2025 recipients of the organization’s annual Elected Officials of the Year awards, who go above and beyond in support of hunting, angling, and conservation in the U.S. and around the globe:

Federal Legislator of the Year

Senator John Curtis (R-UT), who previously represented Utah’s 3^rd Congressional District. He was Vice Chair of the Federal Lands Subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he fought to protect Utah’s public lands while ensuring they remain accessible for recreation and sustainable use.

Governor of the Year and Courage Under Fire Award

Governor Jeff Landry (R-LA), who previously served as Attorney General of Louisiana and represented the Bayou State’s 3^rd Congressional District. In 2024, Governor Landry signed several pivotal pieces of legislation benefiting Louisiana’s outdoorsmen and firearms owners, including HB 684, SB 234, and SB1.

State Legislator of the Year

Representative Lauren Melo (R-FL-80), who introduced HJR 1157, later Amendment 2, which enshrined Floridians’ right to hunt and fish in the state constitution. The measure passed by a supermajority (67%) of Florida’s voters in the 2024 general election.

International Legislator of the Year

Zoltán Kovács, who is currently serving as Hungary’s Secretary of State for International Communication. During Hungary’s recent presidency of the European Union, Secretary Kovács was instrumental in ensuring that hunting remained a priority in political discussions while advancing pro-hunting legislation and protecting the interests of hunters across Europe.