CWA LAUNCHES NEW WOMEN'S PROGRAM:
Honors Ellie Sharp, California's First Lady of Waterfowl

California Waterfowl is working to create opportunities for all women and families to be actively involved in every aspect of the outdoors. Launching the Women’s Outdoor Connections Initiative (WOC), the association honored Ellie Sharp, who recently turned 101 and continues to inspire others with her energy and enthusiasm for the outdoors.

Sharp, California’s “First Lady” of Waterfowl, broke the “for men only” barriers of hunting in 1939.  She was honored for her contributions to women in the outdoors and awarded California Waterfowl’s first annual Artemis Award.

In recognition of Artemis, the Greek Goddess of the Hunt, California Waterfowl’s new award honors Sharp's successes in championing women's outdoor opportunities through her lifelong commitment to hunting. Sharp began hunting after marrying her husband Jim and quickly took to waterfowling.  She broke the men-only club barrier when hunting in District 10 Marysville Area in the 1930s, taught her 14-year-old granddaughter Clarissa to hunt, and even went to the duck blind regularly herself until just four years ago.

California Waterfowl invites women and families to get involved, join conservation efforts and pass on an outdoor legacy. The WOC initiative will support out-of-doors programs for women and families and create a network forum for women interested in volunteerism, hunting and conservation.