2023 Iowa Mentor Of The Year- Matt Tallman
Our mission is to empower young people through outdoor experiences & mentorship. By using outdoor experiences as a platform to mentor young people of diverse backgrounds we are making a generational impact through the outdoors and passing on our outdoor heritage.
It is because of our volunteer mentors that our program is growing and flourishing the way it is. It is our great pleasure to announce our 2023 Iowa Mentor Of The Year Recipient, Matt Tallman. Matt, thank you for all you do! You are an inspiration to so many and we are thankful for your eagerness and passion to serve youth in the outdoors!
Matt started as a volunteer with us in 2023 and has mentored 7 different events through this year! He has a true passion for sharing outdoor experiences with others and unwavering support for our mission to provide kids with new and continued hunting opportunities. He is an incredible example of how we can all do better and be better.
Iowa Program Coordinator, Steph Lane said “Matt has such a great attitude and willingness to mentor, help, and talk through ideas on supporting this program and the kiddos that are a part of it! He is obviously passionate about the outdoors and passing on the love of the outdoors! Thank you so much for your time and mentorship Matt; we appreciate you!”
About Matt: I’m a 46 yr old father of 5. 3 boys and 2 girls. I currently work for Microsoft at one of their data centers as a critical environment technician. I previously worked as a commercial/industrial electrician for almost 22 years before switching to my current occupation. If you’re ever driving around Des Moines with me I will almost certainly drive you batty pointing individual lights I personally installed on many of the buildings downtown
How Long Have You Been Hunting: I started hunting at 8 yrs old. My grandmother had given me a subscription to Field & Stream magazine the year before and once I started looking at the pictures and reading the articles I was hooked. After months of pestering my dad finally borrowed an old Winchester pump action .22 and took me squirrel hunting. I didn’t hit a single one despite going through about a million shells but it was just the coolest thing I’d ever done up to that point and I’ve never looked back
Who Was/Is Your Mentor: My father David was my first mentor. He had done some small game and bird hunting as a child with his dad but it was never something he really enjoyed. However when I decided I wanted to go he loaded me up and took me out and showed me everything he knew about it without complaint. When I got old enough to want to start deer hunting he arranged for me to go out with our neighbor Mike Walters who became my second mentor. It was from him that I learned you don’t put Doe in Estrus scent on yourself and if you do you ride in the back of the truck no matter how cold it is along with many other lessons. Once I turned 16 and could drive myself I generally spent weekends hunting whatever was in season with whoever wanted to go. Over the years I’ve picked up a lot of knowledge from friends and co workers and learned even more through trial and error just getting out and doing it but my dad and Mike were the ones who got me started
What Is Your Favorite Outdoor Mentors Memory: I think my absolute favorite so far was young lady that I took fall turkey hunting at some property my family owns in southern Iowa. Normally you can’t step out the back door without tripping over one down there but this day we covered every square inch of the place without seeing so much as a feather let alone getting a bird. Despite that she remained cheery and enthusiastic the whole day. It’s easy to get discouraged and give up when you’re not having any luck. In my opinion it’s the mark of a true hunter when you don’t lose that hopeful optimism that maybe just over the next rise or behind the next tree you’ll spot whatever you’re after and she was definitely a hunter
What Does It Mean To Be Nominated For Mentor Of The Year: it’s quite an honor and I was surprised and grateful to be chosen. I see how many events are on the calendar so I know we have a ton of truly outstanding mentors here in Iowa who give generously of their time. I’m glad I wasn’t the one tasked with picking just one person out of so many awesome people.