WASHINGTON, D.C. – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders received the first ever “Outdoor Recreation Leadership” award at the Outdoor Recreation Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, May 7th.

“I’m honored to receive the Outdoor Recreation Leadership award and earn recognition for all the progress my administration has made on growing Arkansas’ outdoor economy,” said Governor Sanders. “Alongside my husband, Bryan, I created the Natural State Initiative to invest in state parks, grow outdoor entrepreneurship, get kids off screens and outside, and show Arkansas’ natural beauty to the world. I’m proud that work is admired on the national level and look forward to inviting even more Arkansans and visitors into our outdoor spaces and breaking tourism records year after year.”

Prior to receiving the award, Governor Sanders participated in a roundtable discussion on outdoor recreation with U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. Sanders’ spokeswoman, Alexa Henning, released the following readout of their conversation:

“Governor Sanders joined Senator Hickenlooper, Governor Burgum, and outdoor recreation leaders from around the country to discuss Arkansas’ progress on growing our outdoor economy. The Governor spoke about the Natural State Initiative, which she formed alongside her husband, Bryan, to unite public, private, and nonprofit leaders around growing Arkansas’ tourism industry and improving our natural spaces. She talked about the group’s legislative successes and how, as a nonpartisan issue, growing outdoor recreation is an opportunity to bring together leaders from around Arkansas and both sides of the aisle. She also talked about how important quality of life is for attracting newcomers to Arkansas and encouraging Arkansans to stay in the state, and how the outdoors offer an opportunity for kids to get off screens. The Governor mentioned that Arkansas, as a year-round outdoor destination, has the opportunity to compete with states like North Dakota and Colorado.”