On July 30, the recipients of the 2026 Champions of the Pennsylvania Wilds Awards were recognized for their efforts to help grow and sustainably develop the region’s outdoor recreation economy and nature tourism. 

Approximately 200 people from across the 13-county PA Wilds region and Harrisburg gathered to celebrate the award winners during the 2026 PA Wilds Dinner & Awards, which was held at the DuBois Country Club in Clearfield County. The theme for this year’s dinner was “The Power of Partnerships.”

Award winners included: Artisan of the Year, Marie Lewis; Best Brand Ambassador, Pine Creek Seed Farm Corn Maze; Business of the Year, Kane Manor Inn; Conservation Stewardship, Claire and Rusty Orner of Quiet Creek Herb Farm & School of Country Living; Event of the Year, Forest County Bigfoot Festival; Great Design, Floating Feathers Brewing Company; Great Places, Johnsonburg Historic Armstrong Brick Block; Inspiring Youth, Jack Maxwell; Outstanding Leader, Richard Wykoff; and PA Wilds Planning Team Member of the Year, Candace Hillyard.

“The generational work of uplifting this rural place cannot be done by just one person or one organization,” said Ta Enos, Founder and CEO of the PA Wilds Center, giving a nod to this year’s theme of the event. “The people you see around this room, as well as many others who are not in attendance tonight, have continued to celebrate our region, bring new investments here, and steward our beautiful natural assets. All of the projects the Center accomplished over the last year were all, at their core, stories of partnerships.”

During her speech at the dinner, Enos gave brief updates on new developments in 2026, including thanking the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for transferring the PA Wilds trademarked logo to the PA Wilds Center. The PA Wilds Center has been managing the trademark for more than a decade under a long-term contract with the state, who developed it in the early 2000s.

Read the full story and view photos at: 2026 PA Wilds Champions receive awards at July 30 dinner – PA Wilds Center