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JIM SCHWARTZ
BOARD MEMBER
Jim Schwartz is a 24-year United States Air Force veteran who retired from active duty and continues his commitment to service through civil service work.
He has been married to his wonderful — and exceptionally patient — wife, Darcy, for more than 35 years. Jim is the proud father of four grown children: Christina, Megan, Matt, and Zach. He is also a devoted grandfather (“Paw-pa”) to his granddaughter, Leighton, whom he hopes to mentor in the traditions of the outdoors.
A LIFELONG CONNECTION TO THE OUTDOORS
Jim was born and raised in White Bear Lake, where he grew up surrounded by sportsmen. Hunting and fishing were deeply rooted family traditions passed down through generations.
From an early age, Jim spent countless hours in the woods, marshes, and lakes of Minnesota. As a young angler, he pursued a wide variety of species including panfish, walleye, northern pike, bass, Atlantic salmon, and lake trout.
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His hunting experiences were equally diverse — ducks, geese, pheasants, grouse, squirrels, and rabbits. One of his fondest memories was cross-country skiing through deep winter snow in pursuit of snowshoe hares. As he grew older, his interests expanded to larger game, including whitetail deer, antelope, and bear.
SERVICE & OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES ACROSS THE WORLD
Immediately after high school, Jim joined the United States Air Force, beginning a career that would take him across the country and around the globe.
While stationed in Florida, Jim fished the Gulf of Mexico and hunted swamp whitetails. Assignments in Idaho and Utah introduced him to fly fishing for steelhead and rainbow trout, along with hunting elk, antelope, mule deer, ducks, and geese throughout the Northern Rockies.
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Even overseas assignments did not slow his passion. During a year in South Korea, Jim joined a group that secured government approval to pheasant hunt on local farms and orchards.
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Despite multiple deployments to the Middle East, Jim continued to find opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. While in Kuwait, he organized a fishing excursion into the Persian Gulf, where the group successfully caught sea trout.
CONTINUING THE TRADITION IN NEBRASKA
Since arriving in Nebraska, Jim has enthusiastically embraced Nebraska’s outdoor opportunities. He expanded his pursuits to include turkey, coyote, and bobcat hunting, while also participating in multiple bass tournament leagues.
Beyond personal recreation, Jim has devoted significant time to mentorship and education:
• Mentoring youth hunting activities through Offutt Air Force Base
• Teaching and mentoring youth and special needs participants in archery
• Volunteering with programs at Fontenelle Forest
• Assisting with fishing events for seniors in assisted living communities
• Introducing new hunters and airmen to Nebraska’s outdoor traditions
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Jim is always willing to share his knowledge, experiences, and passion for the outdoors.
A COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION
Throughout his life, Jim has prided himself on continually learning and growing as an outdoorsman. While he considers himself an accomplished sportsman, he firmly believes there are always new lessons to learn and better ways to improve opportunities for future generations.
Jim became a member of the Big Game Conservation Association to give back to Nebraska, help protect its wildlife species, and conserve critical habitat.
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For Jim, conservation is not simply an interest — it is a responsibility.