Chapter volunteers gathered to launch grassroots effort focused on upland habitat advocacy
Representatives from 26 Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters gathered at National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic to mark the launch of the Upland Caucus, an exciting new volunteer grassroots effort to advocate for the organization’s policy priorities in Washington, DC and state capitals across the country. Congressman Brad Finstad (R-MN), a member of the House Agriculture Committee and Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, delivered remarks on the importance of conservation programs to upland hunters and rural communities.
“Conservation programs like CRP matter to wildlife, rural communities, and the hunting heritage we’ll pass down to our kids,” said Congressman Finstad. “As farmers, we live by one indisputable truth: when you invest in the land, the land gives back. As pheasant hunters, we know that without pheasant habitat there is no pheasant hunting.”
“Just as elected officials will form a caucus to pursue shared policy goals, the Upland Caucus will unite passionate advocates to amplify the voice of our community of more than half a million hunters and conservationists and over 750 local chapters,” said Ariel Wiegard, Vice President of Government Affairs for PF & QF. “Thank you to our new Upland Caucus members for helping to advance policy that puts more birds in the air and boots on the ground.”
Read below to meet all 26 members of the inaugural cohort of the Upland Caucus.
- Jerry Beck - Webster County Chapter #27 - Fort Dodge, IA
- John Brader - Chesapeake Bay Chapter #3275 - Mount Airy, MD
- Jim Cleveland – Lincolnland Chapter #3101 - Decatur, IL
- James Culp - Top O' Texas Chapter #3222 - Amarillo, TX
- Rose Danaher - Iowa County Chapter #82 - Amana, IA
- Debbie Eckelkamp - Missouri River Valley Chapter #3152 - Washington, MO
- Clay Frazer - Southeastern WI Chapter #193 - Deerfield, WI
- John Good - Central Florida Chapter #3330 - Winter Park, FL
- Isaac Graham - Ridgecrest CA QF Chapter #3176 - Ridgecrest, CA
- Sean Hudgens - Northern Colorado Chapter #395 - Fort Collins, CO
- Jon Lee - Five Valleys #659 - Missoula, MT
- Ken McDougall - James Valley #891 – Jamestown, ND
- Merlyn Nielsen - Seward County PF Chapter #351 - Seward, NE
- Trevor Oetken – Plymouth Chapter #37 - Le Mars, IA
- Rob Peterson - Ringneck Rustlers Chapter #578 - Wichita, KS
- Jim Schoeck - Rock Island/Henry County Chapter #357 - Rock Island, IL
- Stuart Smith - Big Rock Chapter #3242 - Maumelle, AR
- Ali Spika - Music City Chapter #3150 - Nashville, TN
- Craig Standish - Iroquois River Chapter #479 - Rensselaer, IN
- Stuart Anderson - Kearney County Chapter #785 - Minden, NE
- Greg Tanking - K-16 Chapter #3220 - Holton, KS
- Justin Varner - Bay/Midland #256 - Freeland, MI
- John Wartman - Carver County PF #117 - Waconia, MN
- Chris Weiss - Darke County Chapter #675 - New Weston, OH
- Mike Windschitl - Stearns County Chapter #9 - Cold Spring, MN
- Bill Young - Black Hills Chapter #87 - Rapid City, SD