Published by Garden & Gun | Presented by Visit Highlands
October 7, 2026
Executive Overview
In the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the scenic town of Highlands, North Carolina, served as the picturesque backdrop for one of the most prestigious gatherings of environmental leaders in the American Southeast. Presented by Visit Highlands, Garden & Gun’s latest installment of its celebrated "Party Pics" series transported guests to an immersive celebration dedicated to environmental preservation, community leadership, and culinary excellence.
Dubbed "An Evening with the Champions of Conservation," the event brought together the nation’s foremost aquatic restoration specialists, wildlife managers, land trust executives, and marine biologists. These dedicated individuals—collectively recognized as the Champions of Conservation—spent days collaborating, sharing insights, and discussing the fragile futures of America’s freshwater and saltwater ecosystems.
Against the rustic yet refined aesthetic of Trailborn Highlands and the Highlands Supper Club, the evening served as both a tribute to tireless ecological labor and a sensory exploration of Appalachian culture. From insightful panel discussions addressing habitat degradation to an imaginative, locally sourced multi-course dinner orchestrated by renowned Chef Dissen of The Market Place, the gathering underscored a vital ethos: that the protection of our natural world is inextricably linked to the preservation of our cultural heritage.
Detailed Chronology: From Discourse to Dining
The itinerary for the Champions of Conservation event was meticulously designed to balance rigorous intellectual engagement with relaxed, celebratory fellowship.
Afternoon: Discourse at Trailborn Highlands
The day’s formal events commenced at Trailborn Highlands, where the honorees convened for an intimate panel discussion. Surrounded by the crisp autumn air of the plateau, the conversation focused on the cross-pollination of conservation strategies. Experts from diverse ecological backgrounds shared breakthrough methodologies regarding marine habitat revival, coastal erosion mitigation, and freshwater species preservation.
The panel featured prominent voices from across the environmental spectrum:
- Jessica Mailliez of Sea & Shoreline Aquatic Restoration
- Bo Baxter of Conservation Fisheries
- Keri Lejune of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries
- Maria Whitehead of the Open Space Institute
- Phanor H. Montoya Maya of the Coral Restoration Foundation
- Josselyn Lucas of the Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Bonnie Monteleone of the Plastic Ocean Project
- Candace Fields of the Cape Eleuthera Institute
The dialogue was guided by Garden & Gun editors, including Executive Editor Amanda Heckert, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas. Attendees and honorees alike unpacked the complex realities of modern conservation, exploring how localized initiatives can yield macro-level impacts on biodiversity and climate resilience.
Evening: The Gathering at Highlands Supper Club
As twilight settled over the plateau, the focus shifted from policy to celebration. Guests arrived at the Highlands Supper Club, where every detail of the venue’s decor paid homage to the evening’s environmental theme. Bespoke escort cards, inspired by the delicate intricacies of freshwater streams and saltwater estuaries, guided attendees to candlelit tables draped in rustic elegance.
Among the notable local leaders in attendance were Johanna Fein, Executive Director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce, and Bryan Lewis, Highlands Chamber Board Chair and owner of the acclaimed Highlands Smokehouse. Their presence highlighted the vital partnership between regional commerce and ecological advocacy, proving that economic vitality in mountain and coastal towns depends heavily on environmental stewardship.
The evening also drew corporate and community leaders, including Joe Calhoun and Turtlebox Audio Marketing Director Jenna Calhoun, alongside community stalwarts Tim and Anne Norwood, Shelia Davis, and Irv Kron, all mingling beneath the warm glow of the Supper Club’s dining room.
The Culinary Masterpiece: Chef Dissen’s Farm-to-Table Vision
No Garden & Gun gathering is complete without an exceptional culinary showcase, and Chef Dissen of The Market Place delivered an unforgettable dining experience that bridged the gap between haute cuisine and sustainable gastronomy.
The culinary journey began with one of the night’s most talked-about highlights: Chef Dissen’s signature Ham Luge. This theatrical and palate-awakening course offered guests a precise sequence of flavors:
- A decadent, briny bite of fresh caviar.
- A shot of Woodford Reserve bourbon poured directly through a curing cut of Benton’s country ham.
- A finishing garnish of shaved, twenty-four-month-aged Tennessee country ham.
Following the Ham Luge, the seated dinner continued with an exquisite second course: smoked Sunburst trout accompanied by roasted beets, creamy green goddess dressing, and delicate trout caviar. The dish was expertly paired with a crisp Davis Family Vineyards Estate Chardonnay (Russian River Valley, 2024), highlighting the rich culinary bounty of regional waterways and sustainable agriculture.
As the evening drew to a close, glasses were raised in one final, resonant toast. Laughter echoed through the dining room as conservationists, editors, local officials, and culinary artists celebrated a successful summit, leaving the Highlands plateau with renewed vigor for the work ahead.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The State of Conservation
While the evening was defined by celebration, the underlying gravity of the honorees’ life work cannot be overstated. The organizations represented at the Highlands gathering operate on the front lines of global ecological defense.
- Aquatic and Marine Restoration: Organizations like the Coral Restoration Foundation and Sea & Shoreline tackle the alarming degradation of coral reefs and seagrass meadows. According to global marine studies, over 50% of the world’s coral reefs have been lost or severely degraded over the past three decades due to rising ocean temperatures and coastal development. The work spearheaded by leaders like Phanor H. Montoya Maya and Jessica Mailliez utilizes advanced coral gardening and mechanical planting to restore these crucial marine nurseries.
- Freshwater Biodiversity: Conservation Fisheries (represented by Bo Baxter) focuses on the preservation of non-game freshwater fishes and aquatic mollusks, particularly in the biologically diverse river systems of the American Southeast. The region is a global hotspot for freshwater aquatic life, yet it faces immense pressure from habitat fragmentation and industrial runoff.
- Plastics and Coastal Health: With marine plastic pollution projected to triple by 2040 if preventative measures fail, organizations like the Plastic Ocean Project (Bonnie Monteleone) and the Cape Eleuthera Institute (Candace Fields) are vital in tracking particulate pollution, educating the public, and pioneering circular-economy materials that prevent waste from ever reaching the ocean.
- Land Preservation: The Open Space Institute (Maria Whitehead) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (Josselyn Lucas) work tirelessly on land acquisition and conservation easements, protecting millions of acres of forest, wetlands, and agricultural lands that serve as natural carbon sinks and wildlife corridors.
By gathering these disparate fields under one roof, Garden & Gun and Visit Highlands illuminated the interconnectedness of our environmental ecosystems—proving that protecting a mountain trout stream in North Carolina is fundamentally connected to safeguarding the coastal estuaries of Louisiana and the coral keys of the Caribbean.
Official Statements and Reflections
Reflecting on the success of the event, organizers and partners emphasized the importance of community visibility in environmental advocacy.
"Events like this remind us that conservation is not merely a scientific endeavor—it is a cultural one," noted executive leadership during the Trailborn Highlands panel. "When we bring together the scientists saving our reefs, the chefs sourcing our sustainable trout, and the local leaders protecting our mountain towns, we create a unified front. We remind the public that what we put into our rivers, oceans, and soils ultimately finds its way back to our tables."
Local hosts shared similar sentiments regarding the town of Highlands’ role as an ecological haven. Johanna Fein, executive director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce, remarked on the natural alignment between the region’s tourism identity and its deep-seated commitment to environmental preservation.
"Highlands has always been defined by its breathtaking natural beauty—our cascading waterfalls, our rich temperate rainforests, and our pristine air," Fein noted during the evening’s festivities. "Hosting the Champions of Conservation allows us to look beyond our immediate borders and support the brilliant minds who are fighting to keep America’s natural landscapes thriving for generations to come."
Future Outlook: Looking Beyond 2026
As the lights dimmed at the Highlands Supper Club and the attendees dispersed back to their respective laboratories, field offices, and editorial desks, the impact of the 2026 Champions of Conservation event continued to ripple outward.
The collaborative bonds forged during the panel discussions at Trailborn Highlands are already translating into cross-sector partnerships. By bridging the gap between field researchers and cultural tastemakers, Garden & Gun has helped establish a powerful blueprint for future environmental advocacy—one driven by storytelling, exquisite hospitality, and unyielding scientific dedication.
Plans are already underway for future installments of the conservation series, with participants expressing optimism about the momentum generated in the Blue Ridge Mountains. As ecological challenges grow increasingly complex, gatherings that celebrate the foot-soldiers of preservation ensure that the champions of our natural world receive not only the recognition they deserve, but the communal support necessary to sustain their vital missions.
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