Quail Forever’s largest event, National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic, recently concluded in Sioux Falls as thousands of upland supporters flocked to the Sioux Falls Convention Center. During the event, three local chapters from the state of Missouri were praised with top honors for their volunteer efforts over the past year in the categories of habitat projects, membership, and conservation advocacy.
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“The lifeblood of Quail Forever is the engaged chapter volunteers who work tirelessly throughout the year to impact conservation efforts in their local communities,” stated Howard Vincent, Quail Forever’s president and CEO. “Our national awards for habitat impacts, membership, and conservation advocacy represent the highest accolades for volunteer committees throughout the United States; presenting these awards on our biggest stage at National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic is the highlight of my year. Congratulations to our chapter award winners from Missouri who are all very deserving of the honors.”
Quail Forever Habitat Chapter of the Year Award
Labeled as the most prestigious award amongst chapter volunteers and their peers, the Habitat Chapter of the Year Award is selected by Quail Forever staff and recognizes a leading chapter in the nation for habitat conservation projects and direct mission delivery over the course of one year. Based in Cass County, Missouri, the West Central Missouri Chapter of Quail Forever has earned the 2017 Habitat Chapter of the Year Award through innovative projects and partnerships that are helping to restore quail populations in the Show-Me State.
New to Quail Forever in 2013, the West Central Missouri Chapter of Quail Forever has invested more than $164,000 in their five-year history to complete 742 habitat projects benefiting wildlife on 9,556 acres. The following projects were either completed or started in 2017 by local volunteers of the West Central Missouri Chapter of Quail Forever:
- Completed 55 projects for nesting cover in Missouri by implementing native warm season grasses and wildflowers on 1,028 acres
- Sponsored a prescribed burn association for helping local landowners complete mid-contract management projects on CRP, as well as a successful food plot seed program
- Advocated for a higher CRP acreage cap and worked directly with Congresswoman Vicky Hartlzer (MO-4) and her staff to introduce a new bill – the Grazing Flexibility Act H.R. 4298
Quail Forever Chapter Membership Award
As the lifeblood of the organization, more Quail Forever members equal more acres of habitat, more birds, and more public lands to hunt. In fact, Quail Forever membership surpassed 16,000 members last year due to the efforts of dedicated chapter volunteers. Based in east-central Missouri, the
Missouri River Valley Chapter of Quail Forever has been announced as the 2017 Chapter Membership Award winner with 256 members of Quail Forever earned during their annual banquet. Thanks to these membership and fundraising efforts, the Missouri River Valley Chapter of Quail Forever spent more than $44,000 on wildlife habitat and conservation advocacy efforts in 2017.
Quail Forever Legislative Action Fund Award
The ability of Quail Forever to create habitat often begins in Washington D.C. as federal and state conservation programs become approved by Congress for delivery on the landscape. To that end, local chapters are asked to support Quail Forever’s advocacy efforts through the Legislative Action Fund to assure the voice of conservation is being presented to political platforms. The
Gateway Chapter of Quail Forever based in St. Louis, Missouri, contributed $3,000 to the organization’s advocacy efforts in the past year - and has contributed to the program every year since 2010 - to be named Quail Forever’s Legislative Action Fund Award winner for 2017. Additionally, the Gateway Chapter of Quail Forever has spent more than $101,000 to advance the organization’s mission of wildlife habitat conservation.
About Quail Forever
Quail Forever is a leading organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation efforts for the United States’ native quail species. Since its creation in 2005, Quail Forever has conducted more than 13,000 habitat projects across the nation benefitting quail and other wildlife. Along with its affiliate organization Pheasants Forever, it has committed more than $784 million to improve more than 17 million acres of wildlife habitat. Quail Forever has more than 16,000 members and 170 local chapters across the country. Both Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever are part of Pheasants Forever, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit.