FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8, 2026
NEW ULM, MN — The Archery Trade Association is pleased to announce Marilyn Bentz and Barb Terry as the 2026 ATA Impact Award recipients. Recipients of this prestigious award were announced on Jan. 7 during the 2026 ATA Industry Celebration event, presented by Mossy Oak, for using their voice and/or platform to inspire others to enjoy and participate in archery and bowhunting.
“Among the worthy accomplishments of many individuals and organizations, we are proud to recognize this year’s Impact Award recipients for their long and meaningful contributions to the archery and bowhunting industry," Jeff Poole, ATA president and CEO, said.
A former two-term board member of the Archery Trade Associations Board of Directors, Bentz currently serves as a Board of Director at the National Bowhunter Education Foundation since 1996 and executive director of the National Bowhunter Education Foundation since 2003, leading the global nonprofit’s mission to promote safe and responsible bowhunting through standardized education. A respected leader in the archery industry, she previously served on the NBEF Board of Directors and has held board positions with the Archery Trade Association, the Archery Hall of Fame, and the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation.
Bentz is the recipient of numerous industry honors, including the Fred Bear Achievement Award and IHEA’s Gladney Davidson Award. She was inducted into the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame in 2005. Her career began under the mentorship of archery innovator Chuck Saunders and evolved through leadership roles at several major archery and hunting brands.
Bentz’s business philosophy is profound in its simplicity. She identifies her philosophy as the “Think Factory” mentality; a skill acquired many years ago from her early mentor, Chuck Saunders. It is to provide solutions to existing problems and create niche markets that are economically satisfying to both the manufacturer and the consumer.
Terry's archery career began with Hunter’s Manufacturing as a pro staff member in the fall of 1996. She then started attending NWTF Jakes and Women in the Outdoors events teaching kids as young as three, as well as adults, how to safely shoot crossbows. In 2003, she took a full-time position at TenPoint Crossbow Technologies assembling crossbows and performing warranty repairs. Today, she is their trade show coordinator, a pro staff manager, and is in charge of customer relations, training, education, writing owner’s manuals, catalog copy, accessory instructions, and video scripts. Terry has also authored articles for various magazines such as Horizontal Bowhunter, Woman Hunter and Crossbow Connection and was part of the committee that developed the ATA’s Crossbow Technician Program.
In the mid-2000’s, Terry started teaching special needs and physically challenged youth to shoot crossbows during deer hunts with Whitetail Heritage of Ohio. Over time, the organization expanded its mission to include first-time hunters and adults with disabilities. Terry has been involved with the group longer than any other member, and the 2025 hunt marked her 20th consecutive year. In 2023, she was awarded the Conservationist of the Year Award.
Among her achievements, Terry was also the vice president of Ohio Hunt for Hope for eight years. The event includes a two-day deer hunt for special needs and physically challenged youth, ages 10-17. To make sure everyone has equal access to these hunting opportunities, Terry brings most, if not all, of the equipment needed for the hunt.
As a board member for the National Bowhunter Education Foundation, Terry has prepared and presented specialized International Crossbow Education Program classes to certify instructors. She’s created courses for 4-H instructors in Ohio, treestand manufacturer members, veterans’ groups, and a crossbow education course to meet the Alaska state guidelines for their hunter education instructors.
Last year, Terry accepted a position with the newly formed nonprofit organization Teaching Our Traditions as an unpaid consultant and trainer. This group’s purpose is to preserve and honor cherished hunting, fishing and conservation traditions while simultaneously embracing their natural evolution to remain relevant and meaningful in a changing world.
The ATA Awards Program was created in 2020 to recognize individuals and companies that make significant contributions to the future of archery.
For more information about the ATA’s awards program, please contact Jennifer Mazur, ATA's senior director of outreach and education, at jennifermazur@archerytrade.org or (507) 233-8139.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP THE INDUSTRY, TO HELP INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES GET THE MOST OUT OF THE INDUSTRY, AND TO HELP YOU.
