A Great Start to Forever: September 2007

People Making a Difference in Conservation

A Great Start on Forever: September 2007 A True Champion of Conservation: William (Bill) Baxter, Sr.
This past February, a true champion for wildlife and youth hunting passed away. Bill Baxter, long-time friend of Pheasants Forever and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission biologist for 35+ years and champion of past Farm Bill debates, passed away after a long battle with cancer.

Bill became a life member of PF in 1997, one of the first life members in Nebraska. Bill openly showed his support for PF and proclaimed PF as "the best wildlife conservation organization in the country!" And few people brought the passion and background to the Farm Bill debate that Bill did, as he was a true champion for Farm Bill conservation programs such as CRP.

Baxter Family Farm Trust Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever Partnership Late in 2006, Bill set up an Irrevocable Trust to turn his 320-acre family farm over to PF/QF. As an upland game bird biologist, the Baxter Family Farm has been set up, designed and managed for upland game birds. Today, it serves as a demonstration area for wildlife management and a youth hunting location. The future hunting access on the farm will be managed by PF with its sole purpose being directed towards mentored youth hunting.

A Great Start on Forever: September 2007 Objectives & Goals of Baxter Family Farm

Baxter Wildlife Scholarship Fund One of Bill's final wishes was to set up a scholarship fund for wildlife students. He asked PF to serve on a board that annually assists a wildlife graduate student. It comes as no surprise that his priority areas of interest for funding assistance were either youth hunting or upland game birds. This scholarship will be set up as an endowment fund with the first award to be provided in 2007.

Please consider making a donation to the Baxter Wildlife Scholarship Fund. Your investment in the education and future of a wildlife student will help produce the next champion for wildlife. If they are half as successful as Bill, that's a very small investment to make in the future of wildlife and wildlife habitat. To contribute to the Baxter Wildlife Scholarship Fund and to help improve the future of wildlife, please send you donation to:

Pheasants Forever
Attn: Baxter Scholarship Fund
1011 Alexander Avenue
Elba, NE 68835

A Great Start on Forever: September 2007 For more information on youth mentored hunting opportunities on the Baxter Family Farm or the Baxter Wildlife Scholarship fund, click here or e-mail Pete Berthelsen, PF/QF Senior Field Coordinator, at pberthelsen@pheasantsforever.org.

If you have story ideas, dog photos, pre-1980 hunting photos and requests for future On The Wing consideration, please send correspondence to ahauck@pheasantsforever.org.

Return to On The Wing: September 2007

"On The Wing" Archive