RAPID CITY, SD (August 24, 2026) – National Bowhunter Education Foundation
(NBEF) sponsored the recent Nebraska Hunter Education Conference in Omaha, NE.
NBEF Executive Director Marilyn Bentz; Tree Stand Safety Association President Glenn
Mayhew; and area Hunter Ed Instructor and former Nebraska Hunter Ed Coordinator
Jackson Ellis, provided workshops on tree stand safety and hunting saddle safety. The
workshop content was based on the recently updated TSSA ABC’s of Tree Stand
Safety and ABC’s of Hunting Saddle Safety. In addition to providing lunch for the group
of statewide volunteer instructors, the NBEF also provided five-foot vertical banner
stands of the ABC’s for use in hunter ed/bowhunter ed classes and various consumer
events.
It was fitting that NBEF and Nebraska Hunter Ed Coordinator Kyle Gaston debuted a
new combo Today’s Hunter and Today’s Bowhunter Manual at the event because
Nebraska hunter educators were the impetus for its creation.
“It’s always a pleasure to be involved with this event. The State of Nebraska has a
strong hunter education and bowhunter education program with dedicated instructors,”
explained Marilyn Bentz, NBEF Executive Director. “Not only is the Nebraska’s
bowhunting mentoring program nationally renowned but they are known for leading the
way in education innovations such as the combo course both in print and online.”
“We appreciate our continued and long-standing partnership with NBEF,” said Nebraska
Hunter Education Coordinator Kyle Gaston. “NBEF is instrumental in our bowhunter
education and elevated hunting safety curriculum as well as Nebraska’s evolving hunter
recruitment, retention and reactivation initiatives.”
Volunteers were honored for their years of continuous service as bowhunter education
instructors in Nebraska. They were presented certificates and pins for their years of
service. Most notable were those individuals honored for serving 25 years or more of
service to the State of Nebraska. Several in attendance had more than 35 years of
service.
NBEF helps bowhunters learn to be safe, successful and stewards of the sport. NBEF
offers bowhunting instructional items, books, videos, 3-D models, apparel and more at
nbef.org.
About NBEF
The National Bowhunter Education Foundation offers instructional content and tools for
bowhunter education and hunter education. Helping bowhunters become safe and
successful hunters and stewards of the sport are important NBEF missions. NBEF
provides the bowhunter certification curriculum and class content that some states and
certain circumstances require to bow hunt. NBEF provides instructor training and
certification.
NBEF oversees the International Bowhunter Education Program and works with the
International Hunter Education Association and state agencies to coordinate a unified
program. States may have additional requirements. Europe and other countries offer full
reciprocity for the NBEF (IBEP) certification and conduct classes.
NBEF also oversees the International Crossbow Education Program and works with
state agencies responsible for crossbow education to develop comprehensive online
crossbow safety courses that teach students important laws and regulations, game
identification, and safe, responsible handling of crossbow equipment.
NBEF is a 501(c)3 corporation that isn’t a membership-based organization. Tax-
deductible donations to support this non-profit are welcome.
Learn more at nbef.org.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Kim Emery, Firefly Publicity, kim@fireflypublicity.com
