Quail Forever Team member helps found Women on the Wing Chapter
This year, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever will once again recognize 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.
We have chosen six finalists (three Pheasants Forever and three Quail Forever) for the award. The winner will be announced at the upcoming National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic, which runs March 7-9 in Kansas City, Missouri.
“Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are dynamic conservation organizations, fueled by the dedication of volunteers,” said Tom Fuller, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s vice president of chapter and volunteer services. “The Volunteer of the Year award seeks to honor individuals who have made a profound impact on our mission. Our volunteer network is a vibrant community of passion and talent. This annual award is a celebration of the remarkable accomplishments of these volunteers, and is intended to inspire others to join the movement for upland conservation.”
Over the course of the next three weeks we’ll get to know each finalist, and celebrate their accomplishments in the world of habitat conservation. The first volunteer we’ll highlight this year is Katy Hulsey.
Tell us a little more about yourself. Your history with bird hunting and conservation, how long you’ve been a member of Pheasants Forever, etc.
I joined Pheasants Forever in 2022 as an affiliate member. Since then, I’ve proudly become both a PF and QF life member, and I’m excited to continue expanding my involvement. What’s interesting is that I came to the upland lifestyle with no background in bird hunting — no family or friends who hunted and no real knowledge of upland birds. My only connection was a passion for conservation and the natural world. Everything changed when I met a few female biologists from Missouri. I quickly realized I had already been practicing some of the same habitat management techniques central to upland conservation. This sparked a deep curiosity about how I could contribute further. Fast forward to today, I’m fortunate to be employed by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and just completed my first bird season with my pup. When I'm not working or volunteering, you'll always find me outdoors with my husband, two kids, and dogs.
What initially spurred you to get involved with your local chapter?
It all started when I attended an all-women's event and met some of Missouri's incredible Quail Forever biologists. They opened my eyes to the many ways I could get involved. Inspired, I reached out to national staff to inquire about starting a Women on the Wing chapter. And yes - I had no prior ties to the organization, and my first step was to launch a new chapter! Fortunately, I received amazing support, though I was encouraged to first get familiar with my local chapter. That next week, I attended a Missouri River Valley Chapter meeting in Washington, Mo., and was welcomed with open arms. I’ve never looked back since! Now, I’m the chapter secretary for Missouri River Valley, and in September 2024, we proudly launched the Show-Me Women on the Wing chapter, where I currently serve as president.
Talk about the work you and your chapter have been doing over the course of the last year.
The Missouri River Valley Chapter of Quail Forever has had an eventful year! We’ve hosted a variety of free events, including youth mentored squirrel and quail hunts, a family fishing derby, three weekends of youth and women’s mentored dove hunts, and, of course, our annual banquet. In addition, we fully sponsored four Milkweed in the Classroom kits, supported the creation of a new trap shooting range for a local team, and contributed to several other community projects.
As for the Show-Me Women on the Wing Chapter, while we’re still in our early stages, we’ve hit the ground running with fundraising efforts to support multiple upcoming projects. We’re excited to partner with the Heartland Chapter of Pheasants Forever and the Lone Buffalo Chapter of Quail Forever to host a youth and women’s mentored pheasant hunt in western Missouri. We’re eager for 2025 to continue our work and look forward to the community events we have planned for the upcoming year.
There are over 150,000 Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever members, and just six total finalists for Volunteer of the Year. What does it mean to be nominated for this award?
Being nominated for Volunteer of the Year is truly an honor! Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have become such a meaningful part of my life, and I’m deeply grateful for this recognition. I’ve never sought recognition or awards; my focus has always been on making a positive impact and showing others that you don’t need to be extraordinary to dive in and make a difference. This nomination is a wonderful reminder of the incredible work we can accomplish together as a community.