Ballard Leads by Example Through Outreach and Conservation

For Duane Ballard, volunteering for the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance is in his DNA.

Raised in a United Auto Workers family that loved to hunt and fish, the UAW Local 659 financial secretary’s leadership skills, passion for the outdoors and strong work ethic have led the way in efforts to support his community in Flint, Michigan.

Ballard first connected with the USA through its conservation dinners. Kevin Grubbs, USA’s director of field operations, remembered when Ballard first expressed interest in getting involved.

“Duane had attended a few of our dinners in the Greater Lansing area,” Grubbs said. “He really wanted to bring a dinner to Flint and thought it would be a great opportunity to involve UAW members as well as the other surrounding trades in that market in a dinner.”

Funds raised from UAW Region 1-D Flint Conservation Dinners supported a project to improve public access to the Flint River in 2019.

Fourteen miles northwest of the project, Ballard took his USA involvement a step further and led the first UAW Local 659 Flint Area Get Youth Outdoors Day at Bluegill Boat Launch in 2023.

After the successful inaugural event, Ballard didn’t stop there. He and other volunteers recognized the need for more shade on-site. In early 2025, Ballard, the Genesee County Parks and fellow union volunteers constructed a 32’ x 48’ pavilion.

The pavilion was dedicated during the 2025 Third Annual Flint Get Youth Outdoors Day on June 7. More than 500 youths and their families enjoyed fishing, kayaking, archery, BB gun shooting, birdhouse building, frisbee golf, and field dog demonstrations.

“I think it’s twofold because my grandkids have friends that don’t enjoy the outdoors,” Ballard said. “If I can give these opportunities to them, plus anybody else that wants to come along for the ride, we can go out and enjoy the great outdoors together. Hopefully, they can pass it down to their kids and grandkids.”

Ballard said while his “feet, head and back” felt the event this year after walking 22,000 steps, he still has ambitions to make it “bigger and better” next year, and he’s working with park staff and the USA on plans to build a new fishing dock at the park using USA dinner funds and volunteer union labor.

Maggie Sager, USA’s conservation coordinator, praised Ballard’s commitment.

“You can just tell how much he cares about projects like this and how much work he’s put into it,” she said. “It’s just really awesome to see someone using that bubbly personality to bring folks closer together in the name of conservation and youth outreach.”

Sam Phipps, USA’s director of conservation, summed up Ballard’s impact.

“Duane is so passionate about not only his membership and his local union but also about his community,” Phipps said. “You combine both of those, that’s what really makes a difference and makes the sky the limit on what the USA is able to do.”

Watch Duane’s Story…