Ducks Unlimited (DU) recently named Jeff Tillma the 2026 Minnesota Conservation Partner of the Year and recognized Brittany Nosbush with their 2026 Beyond the Call Award.

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Ducks Unlimited

Jeff Tillma, 2026 Minnesota Conservation Partner

Tillma is the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) Fish and Wildlife Division’s land acquisition coordinator based in Grand Rapids. Nosbush is the MNDNR’s senior realty specialist in New Ulm.

The awards were presented on Feb. 14, by DU conservation staff during DU’s Minnesota State Convention at Arrowhead Resort and Conference Center in Alexandria, attended by nearly 300 of DU’s most dedicated volunteers and Major Sponsor

Tillma has worked for the MNDNR for over 27 years, first as a fisheries biologist and stream restoration biologist and currently as a land acquisition coordinator.

“I waterfowl hunt each year, grew up reading DU magazines and always wanted to be a waterfowl biologist,” Tillma said. “My career went down a different path, but this acknowledgement is the next best thing and means a lot. I’m very grateful. I truly enjoy working with DU, and the DU staff's enthusiasm is contagious. Working with partners is the best part of my job.”

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Ducks Unlimited

Left to right: DU Minnesota Public Policy Chair Mark Pederson, Brittany Nosbush, DU State Chair Tony Paul, MNDNR Wildlife Section Manager Dave Trauba, DU First Vice President Dr. Rex Schulz and DU Minnesota Senior Manager of Conservation Programs Jon Schneider.

Nosbush has worked for the MNDNR for 12 years, nine as a senior realty specialist, working with partners and land projects throughout the state.

“Thanks so much to Ducks Unlimited for this award. It truly is an honor to work with you,” Nosbush said. “I value the partnership we have and look forward to so many more land projects to come.”

The work of Tillma and Nosbush supports Ducks Unlimited's cooperative public land protection and restoration efforts.

 “Without highly motivated state and federal agency colleagues and partners, we simply can’t be successful in implementing our conservation mission,” said DU Senior Manager of Minnesota Conservation Programs Jon Schneider. “Jeff Tillma has done a wonderful job of coordinating land acquisition opportunities among multiple DU staff, MNDNR divisions and many conservation partners in Minnesota. Brittany Nosbush has routinely gone above and beyond to facilitate complex public land acquisitions for DU by the MNDNR in a friendly, efficient, professional and timely manner. DU staff and our nearly 50,000 DU members in Minnesota appreciate their dedicated public service and partnership.”

About Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 19 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation for a Continent comprehensive campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:

Gregg Powers
(901) 758-3774
gpowers@ducks.org