This year, for the first time, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever recognized a national “Volunteer of the Year.” The award celebrates the very best the organization has to offer — the members and volunteers who optimize the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever mission, who seek to protect and grow our wildlife habitat, and who help ensure our heritage continues for generations to come. During National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic on March 1-3, Nobles County standout Scott Rall became the first ever Pheasants Forever National Volunteer of the Year. Rall is in his 39th year with the Habitat Organization. His initiation into the uplands began with Pheasants Forever and has grown into a lifelong passion. A voracious pheasant hunter, Rall also generously lends his time and expertise to others looking to get involved. Over the years, Rall has helped spearhead over 45 public land acquisitions across Minnesota, adding thousands of acres for hunters new and old to roam. Rall is bold and outspoken. When he walks in a room you know he’s there — and what better person to have speaking on behalf of conservation. His life seems inundated by the uplands, from the way he dresses to the wall packed with habitat awards at his office. The weekend of Pheasant Fest was filled with handshakes and congratulations, but rather than seeing this award as the capstone of four decades of hard work, Rall talked about the future — what he wants his chapter to accomplish in the years to come and how to make an even bigger impact. And just to double down on his forward-thinking mentality, Rall capped off the weekend by proposing to his longtime girlfriend Joan Holles. Learn more about Scott and his incredible work as a volunteer at the link below. https://www.pheasantsforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Pheasants-Forever/Pheasants-Forever-National-Volunteer-of-the-Year.aspx

This year, for the first time, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever recognized a national “Volunteer of the Year.” The award celebrates the very best the organization has to offer — the members and volunteers who optimize the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever mission, who seek to protect and grow our wildlife habitat, and who help ensure our heritage continues for generations to come. During National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic on March 1-3, Maryland native Eddie Beck became the first ever Quail Forever National Volunteer of the Year. In Beck’s tenure of less than three years, The Chesapeake Bay Chapter of Quail Forever has grown exponentially, as has banquet attendance and the amount of money raised for local habitat. The chapter is contributing to two Farm Bill biologist positions (MD & DE) and were recently able to provide $20,000 in native seed to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for the establishment of a new Wildlife Management Area in the quail focus region. Eddie’s love for the outdoors and his incredible success in bringing people together for a common goal, making him the ideal candidate for this award. Read more about Eddies outstanding work as a volunteer at the link below. https://quailforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Quail-Forever/Quail-Forever-National-Volunteer-of-the-Year.aspx

“In the world of quail, bird dogs and horses there are few, if any, that can match the prestige and celebrity of Delmar Smith. Generations of trainers, bird dogs and enthusiasts from across the globe have attended his legendary seminars. Delmar’s legacy has been well-documented by renowned journalists, photographers and novelists alike. It is my belief that Delmar is the greatest dogman ever to walk this earth. He is my hero. While the proverbial saying warns us to never meet our heroes, it is indisputable that Delmar is the exception. My time with Delmar has been filled with lessons on raising a bird dog, but also full of fun. Delmar speaks in a version of Oklahoma Sanskrit: a way of distilling problems into simple folksy messages. For instance, he will say, “You ready, got your tail up, waiting on go?” … which is his way of asking me if I am excited for the day ahead of us. At 97 and in good health, he wakes up ready to take on the adventures of every new day with a positive attitude and stories to tell. I hope life gives me plenty more chances to turn dogs loose with Delmar, to watch and listen to his sage advice, and learn the ways of a dogman. Delmar is my hero.” To read the entire story “It’s Okay to Meet Your Heros” by PF & QF National Board Member Douglas Spale, head to the link below. https://quailforever.org/delmarsmith

Prescribed burn season is upon us. Fire is an essential tool utalized to maintain the integrity of grasslands as an ecosystem by creating early successional habitat for quail across the landscape.

It's banquet season, and you're invited! Get your bids ready and find a local chapter event near you at the link below! https://pfqf.myeventscenter.com

As the wildfires in Texas and Oklahoma move closer to containment, "The Habitat Organization” would like to extend our sincere condolences to all those affected by these catastrophic events. Our thoughts are with the residents of each state — who’ve lost both lives and livelihoods during these fires — as well as with the fire fighters, volunteers and donors who have given their time to assist those in need. These recent events are a stark reminder of nature’s destructive power, but have also highlighted the importance of preventative fire management. The American Great Plains are intimately connected to fire — the landscape is built to burn, and the ground will recover much faster than the industry and agriculture that were destroyed alongside it. While Texas and Oklahoma will undoubtedly deal with more fires like these in years to come, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever team members will continue to help landowners and local communities with prevention measures. The Habitat Organization is a nationwide leader in the application of prescribed fire, with a proven track record across large portions of the Midwest. The recent events in Texas and Oklahoma have galvanized our efforts further to the south, and the organization will work tirelessly in these areas to both recover from and prevent wildfire in the future. Read the entire blog at the link: https://quailforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Quail-Forever/The-Heart-of-The-Habitat-Organization-is-with-the-Southern-Great-Plains.aspx