Bobwhite Quail Enthusiasts in Southwest Nebraska Form Newest Quail Forever Chapter

The covey rise continues in Nebraska with the formation of the state’s fourth Quail Forever chapter. Officially known as the Southwest Prairie Chapter of Quail Forever, the new committee is eager to enhance upland wildlife habitat on the landscape and to pass along valued hunting and conservation traditions by exposing youth to the outdoors.  
 
“As a chapter, our specific goals are to help fund shrub thicket plantings and food plots, to eventually purchase a drill for planting nesting cover, and to engage youth in the outdoors by hosting youth mentor hunts, supporting local youth shooting teams, and conducting youth pollinator projects,” stated Diane Hidy, elected treasurer and secretary of the Southwest Prairie Chapter of Quail Forever.     
 
To achieve these goals, the new chapter will utilize Quail Forever’s unique model of empowering chapters with 100 percent control of their locally-raised funds from chapter banquets and other events. This allows chapters to conduct habitat and youth education projects in their own communities, while belonging to a national organization with a voice regarding state and federal conservation policy.
 
“The energy and excitement this chapter has for making a difference for wildlife and youth in their community is contagious. I look forward to working together with them to put in some great habitat in premier quail and pheasant country,” said Andy Houser, Farm Bill biologist for Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever. Houser is responsible for developing quality wildlife habitat in Red Willow, Frontier, Hayes, and Hitchcock counties. 
 
Southwest Prairie Chapter of Quail Forever
  • The Southwest Prairie Chapter of Quail Forever has elected Ronald Hoyt of Culbertson as president, Diane Hidy of Trenton as treasurer and secretary, and Scott Golding of Stratton as youth education chair.
  • The chapter will hold its next meeting on Monday, June 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the city park in Stratton. Hunters and conservationists interested in joining the chapter as volunteers are encouraged to attend.
  • For more information about the chapter or to become involved, please contact chapter president, Ronald Hoyt, at (308) 278-2333 / email.
Nebraska is home to four Quail Forever chapters, 60 Pheasants Forever chapters, and over 10,500 members of "The Habitat Organization." For more information about Quail Forever, contact Colby Kerber, regional representative for Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever in Nebraska, at (308) 520-0876 / email.
 
About Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 140,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent; the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $577 million on 489,000 habitat projects benefiting over 12 million acres nationwide.
 
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