WHY WEDNESDAY

JAMES WILSON

Current NATRA President | Middle Tennessee OHV President | Volunteer | NATRA Member Since 2006

"It can all be sold tomorrow. That's why I volunteer today."

Before You Read…

Most people know James Wilson as the current President of NATRA and Middle Tennessee OHV.

What many don’t know is that he was riding West Point long before NATRA ever leased the property.

His story isn’t just about becoming president.

It’s about watching a place he loved almost disappear and deciding future generations deserved better.

This is James’ Why.

WHY I SAY YES

When people meet me today, they know me as the President of NATRA and Middle Tennessee OHV. What most don't know is that years ago, I wasn't exactly excited to see NATRA come to West Point.

I grew up riding these woods in the early 1990s. Back then, West Point wasn't a managed riding area, it was simply where local kids went to ride. My friends and I spent countless hours exploring the trails, climbing hills, crossing creeks, and making memories we still talk about today. When the first NATRA members showed up, we honestly didn't understand what they were trying to accomplish. To us, they were outsiders changing something that had always just been ours. It wasn't until years later that I began to understand what they were really doing.

As I got older, I realized something those early volunteers already knew. The future of riding isn't guaranteed. The landowners, corporations, and people making decisions about these properties often have no idea what they mean to the families who spend their weekends here. One contract changes. One property gets sold. One lease isn't renewed. Decades of memories can disappear almost overnight. That realization changed everything for me.

I started volunteering because I realized someone had to help protect what generations before me had enjoyed. For me, it started by helping with activities for kids. Seeing young riders experience the same excitement I had growing up made me realize this was about much more than riding. It was about passing something on. I wanted future generations, including my own kids and grandkids, to have the opportunity to sling mud, throw rocks, make memories, and experience the outdoors the same way my dad and I did.

Over the years I served on the trail maintenance and security teams, helping maintain the property and protect what our members had worked so hard to build. After serving three years as Vice President, I was honored to become President of NATRA, where I've now served for two years. One of the biggest milestones during this journey has been purchasing land instead of simply leasing it. For years, we worried every time a lease came up for renewal. We knew how fragile our future could be. Purchasing property was our first major step toward long-term conservation and securing legal riding opportunities for generations to come.

But we're not finished. My hope is that before my time in leadership is over, we'll acquire even more land and continue building a future where our members never have to wonder if they'll still have a place to ride. One thing that has surprised me most throughout this journey is realizing how many people share the same story. Whether they ride dirt bikes, ATVs, or side-by-sides, families from all over come here for the same reason. They simply want a legal, safe place to enjoy the outdoors with the people they love. At the end of the day, that's what we're all working toward. A future where our children don't have to worry about losing the places we've worked so hard to protect.

If there's one thing I wish everyone could see, it's just how quickly it can all disappear. Places like this don't survive by accident. They survive because ordinary people decide they're worth protecting.

That's why I volunteer.

Not because someone asked me to.

Not because of a title.

But because if people stop showing up, the future of our sport disappears with them.

If you believe off-road riding is worth preserving, for your family, for your kids, for your grandkids, and for every rider who comes after us, I encourage you to get involved.

The only way forward is to work together and make it happen.