Garry Brandenburg, of Albion, IA, is one of our newest Board Members. He is a former Director of the Marshall County Conservation Board.  He served in that capacity from 1972-2004.  A native of Bremer County, IA, he enlisted in the USAF in 1963, served four years and secured an honorable discharge in 1967.  He then attended Iowa State University and graduated in 1971 with a Fish & Wildlife Biology bachelor of science degree.

Brandenburg remains active in several conservation organizations.  Hobbies and interests include wildlife photography, writer for a
local newspaper once per week column titled Outdoors Today, bow hunting, reading anything about earth’s natural history, travel,
and flying as a private pilot. Brandenburg is sponsored by the Marshall County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League

Tom Toycen is our featured board member this month. He is one of two representatives serving on the TIP Board of Directors from the Iowa Bowhunters Association. Tom has been on the IBA Board since 2006 and is currently the president of the IBA. He has served on the TIP board since 2011.

Tom feels the support TIP gives our Conservation Officers is our highest priority. If TIP can approve and provide a reward for information that helped a Conservation Officer bring poachers to justice then our mission is accomplished. He feels our mission also includes providing Conservation Officers with funds for specialized equipment and training.

Tom is also proud that the IBA and TIP sponsor a Conservation Officer of the Year awarded at the IBA’s Spring Banquet. The award is given to recognize the hard work and dedication of our Conservation Officers.

Tom retired after a 40 year career in healthcare serving Iowans in their time of greatest need. Since his retirement he finally had time to spray the dandelions in his yard and plant a garden so big that his neighbors will be locking their car doors to keep him from giving them his excess produce. He is a hunter, angler and very short line trapper. He also enjoys attempting to be a blacksmith and metal worker and riding his motorcycle.

Tom is a member of the IBA, Quality Deer Management Association, Pheasants Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation and the Iowa Trappers Association.

He resides near Mount Vernon.

Steve Dermand is our featured TIP Board member in our new "launch" of the Iowa Turn-In- Poachers Webpage. Steve has been an “official” board member since April 2013. Prior to that Steve was our DNR Law Enforcement liaison member from 1989 to March of 2013 when he retired from DNR after a 36 year career in natural resources at the state and county level. Steve is sponsored by the Warren County Izaak Walton chapter.

Steve has a bachelor’s degree in wildlife sciences from Buena Vista University and has called Iowa his home for all of his 64 years. He currently resides in Indianola, Iowa. Steve’s training and many years of practical experience and knowledge provides our board with valuable insight when reviewing poaching cases and reward considerations. When he is not working in the yard or garden, or doing projects for friends Steve can be found hunting, fishing, or playing Pickleball and just generally doing what “retired guys” do.

In addition to serving on the TIP Board, Steve sits on the Friends of Warren County Conservation volunteer board and on the board for the Warren County chapter of Izaak Walton League. Steve is a member of many other conservation-based sporting organizations including: Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Iowa State Sheriff’s Assoc. and the National Rifle Assoc. Be sure to find our TIP exhibit at the Iowa Deer Classic and you will probably see Steve greeting folks and discussing a variety of topics/issues.