NBEF Names Bob Barnette NBEF Instructor of the Year
Posted on: Jul 10, 2026
RAPID CITY, SD (July 13, 2026) – The National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) sponsored the 2026 International Hunter Education Association– USA (IHEA-USA) Conference, in Glendale, AZ.
NBEF presented Bob Barnette with its annual National Bowhunter Education Foundation International Instructor of the Year award, recognizing outstanding contributions to bowhunter education. Mathews supplied Barnette with a Mathews 2026 ARC bow, signed by Matt McPherson.
Barnette is a lifelong hunter with a passion for bowhunting. He became hooked when his first bow harvest, which happened on his family’s ranch, became his personal best whitetail buck. Since then, he has harvested several dozen deer and over 200 feral hogs all with bow. Since 2017 he has been a hunter ed and bowhunter ed instructor, certifying hundreds of bowhunter students. He is past president of the Texas Bowhunters Association and was the Texas Bowhunter Education Instructor of the Year in 2022. He is an area Master Bowhunter Ed instructor and passes along his passion for teaching youth and creating more bow ed instructors. He is a field operations coordinator for the Texas Wildlife Association’s (TWA) Youth Hunting Program and developed the curriculum for the TYHP Adventure Hunt Program. He is also one of the few Texas hunters leading hunts in the Hagerman Wildlife refuge which is an archery-only area. While he still enjoys bowhunting on the family ranch, his conservation and bowhunting efforts have taken him to many western states to bowhunt elk, mule deer, and pronghorn with his sons.
“NBEF thanks all hunter and bowhunter ed instructors for their dedication. We also take this opportunity to recognize and celebrate the efforts of an individual whose outstanding efforts over the years have really made an impact,” said NBEF Executive Director Marilyn Bentz. “It’s our pleasure to present this award at the IHEA-USA Conference. We collaborate with IHEA-USA throughout the year to promote hunter safety and education nationwide,” said Bentz.
“IHEA-USA is grateful for the continued support from the National Bowhunter Education Foundation,” said Alex Baer, Executive Director of IHEA-USA. “We are honored that NBEF has chosen our annual meeting as the host event to deliver this prestigious award to amazing instructors like Bob Barnette. Congratulations Bob and thank you for your service to bowhunter education."
NBEF Executive Director Marilyn Bentz attended the event and shared NBEF’s mission and bowhunter education resources with newly appointed state hunter education administrators.
Through its ongoing collaboration with IHEA-USA, NBEF continues to promote its focus on safe, ethical hunting practices and supports the broader R3 (recruitment, retention, reactivation) movement that benefits the conservation and outdoor community.
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 classes in the US. Helping bowhunters become safe and successful hunters and stewards of the sport are important NBEF missions. The NBEF provides bowhunter certification standards and class content that states and certain circumstances require in order to bowhunt. 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. Europe and other countries accept the NBEF (IBEP) certification and conduct IBEP 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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