At the University of Tampa, CFACT Collegian Alyssa Bianchi gave students a flavorful lesson in conservation by hosting a Wild Game Jerky Bar—an event designed to show how hunting contributes to environmental stewardship while giving attendees a literal taste of the outdoors.
Held in the Vaughn Center, Alyssa’s table quickly became one of the busiest spots on campus. “We had nearly 40 people attend and ask questions and this will definitely need to be a repeated event,” she reported. “Students were extremely involved and asking questions.” Participants sampled jerky made from wild game such as boar, venison, and alligator, guessing which type they had received before flipping over their jerky package to find out.
To complement the tasting, Alyssa filled her table with eye-catching educational materials that connected conservation, agriculture, and climate realism. Her displays included fact sheets like “Hunting is Conservation” and “Debunking the Cattle Crisis,” which explained how regulated hunting and responsible livestock management both benefit the environment. Alongside them, “The Real Facts About CO₂” highlighted the essential role carbon dioxide plays in plant growth, while stickers such as “Don’t Tread on Meat,” “Keep Calm and Enjoy Nature,” and “Save the Whales” added a creative touch that drew in curious students and tied together CFACT’s broader mission of promoting stewardship grounded in science and common sense.
Even campus staff took notice. According to Alyssa, one dining hall employee stopped by and exclaimed, “wow, you keep this up because I am going home and look up more about CFACT, this is amazing.”
The enthusiasm didn’t slow down. When Alyssa hosted a second day of the event, campus participation was even higher than before. “We had about 60 or so more people stop by, which I have never seen anything like it in my life, it was crazy!” she said. “We had once again faculty come and talk to us and was bringing in students for us. We had several students say ‘I actually was waiting for you all to come back, I love seeing you guys table!’”
Through this engaging and lighthearted activity, Alyssa not only sparked curiosity about hunting as conservation but also showcased CFACT’s creative outreach tools. Her work exemplifies the organization’s Conserve and Preserve Campaign, which empowers students to celebrate nature through hands-on experiences that balances human prosperity with responsible wildlife management.
