Greenhead editor Brent Birch is growing his influence. The Little Rock native was recently featured in the launch of outdoor outfitter Tom Beckbe’s new partnership with Ducks Unlimited, alongside other sportsmen and women from across the country.
“I knew that if we wanted to tell a story about the rich tradition of waterfowling, Arkansas, in a lot of ways, is at the heart of that, and Brent is the expert on the history of duck hunting in Arkansas. So I thought he was the perfect person to spotlight for that reason,” Radcliffe Menge, founder of the Tom Beckbe brand, said.
The collaboration, announced in 2024 and officially launched earlier this month, is designed with hunters nationwide in mind. Menge said he’s been a longtime Ducks Unlimited supporter personally, and felt a responsibility to spread the nonprofit’s conservation message through his company.
“I think that outdoor brands have a responsibility to be good stewards themselves and to promote good stewardship. I think that for a couple reasons: One, it’s the right thing to do on a personal level, not even a corporate level,” he said. But two, if you’re promoting enjoying the outdoors and spending time outside, you need to be doing something to make sure that all those great outdoors stay wild places.”
Birch said he was thrilled to be able to help spread the conservation message of the brands’ partnership.
“It’s a true honor to be part of this conservation-driven collaboration between Tom Beckbe and Ducks Unlimited. Within the waterfowl community, hunters and brands alike share a responsibility to give back and this project is a strong reflection of that commitment. Radcliff and his team genuinely understand the mission,” he said.
“And the fact that the new DU gear looks great doesn’t hurt either.”
The Tom Beckbe x Ducks Unlimited collection is anchored by the classic Steward jacket, in a unique new color called Wetlands Green. Menge said the jackets were designed with extra functionality, like swing pleats in the back for range of motion and large, moleskin-lined front pockets for warmth, while still maintaining the brand’s heritage style.
“We used to make a wading-length jacket that was really popular, and that had sort of evolved over time. This gave us an opportunity to reset,” Menge said. “It’s still got that great Alabama Clay color that we use on the inside to give you a bit of an earthy vibrancy when the jacket opens. I think people will notice, if you compare it to a Tensaw jacket or a Piedmont jacket — some of our other wax jackets — that this one has a bit more heft to it.”
The collection also includes other hunting and everyday apparel for both men and women, as well as accessories including a field hat and gear bags.
A percentage of sales of gear from the new DU collection will go to Ducks Unlimited in support of its conservation mission. Menge said he selected DU as a partner because of its strong record of effective financial management — 83% of every dollar donated went to conservation work last year — and its volunteer-driven structure.
“They’re serious about the mission, and they’re great folks to work with, so I couldn’t think of a better brand to align Tom Beckbe with,” Menge said.
The campaign’s launch showcased features on several well-known hunters, including Birch; fellow Arkansan Anne Marie Doramus; regular Greenhead photo contributor Lee Kjos; Cheever Farley, a native Texan restoring wetlands in Oklahoma; and Roy Belcher, a Maryland hunter working to keep the dying tradition of handmade silhouette decoys alive along the Eastern Shore.
“We’re talking about all different weather, all different conditions, all different species of waterfowl, completely different places thousands of miles apart. But the tradition and culture of waterfowling is strong in all those places, for unique reasons but also universal reasons,” Menge said.
The collection is available to view at tombeckbe.com/ducksunlimited. Learn more about Ducks Unlimited and its mission at ducksunlimited.com.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to add comments from Birch.
