New and Returning Volunteers Join the Second Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever ‘Upland Caucus’

October 9, 2026 – St. Paul, Minn. – Representatives from 26 Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) chapters have joined together to form the second Upland Caucus, following a successful inaugural effort in 2025-26. This group will serve through fiscal year 2027 as a volunteer grassroots endeavor to advocate for the organization’s policy priorities in Washington, D.C. and state capitals across the country. 

“Our Upland Caucus members have been valuable force multipliers for PF & QF’s work advocating for conservation funding, hunting regulations, the farm bill, and so many other issues across the nation,” said Ariel Wiegard, vice president of government affairs for PF & QF. “We’re very excited to introduce this year’s volunteers, and we thank them for helping to advance policy that puts more birds in the air and boots in the field.” 

The name, state, and chapter for the 26 members of the second cohort of the Upland Caucus include: 

Returning Members 

• Jon Lee, Montana (Five Valleys) 

• Trevor Oetken, Iowa (Plymouth County) 

• Rob Peterson, Kansas (Ringneck Rustlers) 

• Stuart Smith, Arkansas (Big Rock) 

• Justin Varner, Michigan (Bay-Midland) 

New Members 

• Ryan Abbott, Indiana (SW IN) 

• Glenn Bishop, Illinois (Montgomery) 

• Kyle Broadfoot, Nebraska (Republican Valley) 

• James Brown, South Dakota (Black Hills) 

• Adam Bruscher, North Dakota (James Valley) 

• Ben Burns, Ohio (Deer Creek) 

• Shawn Carlson, Kansas (Flint Hills) 

• David Clifford, South Carolina (Newberry SC) 

• Mark Dean, Minnesota (Tri-County) 

• Jeremy Flores, Iowa (Jasper) 

• Danny Glenn, Texas (High Plains) 

• Larry Hanks, Missouri (Missouri River Valley) 

• Wade Heidemann, Nebraska (Rock Creek) 

• Gary Krukar, Wisconsin (Southeastern WI) 

• Keith Lewis, Iowa (Wapello-Davis) 

• Josh Melby, Colorado (Yuma County) 

• Bill Priddy, Tennessee (Smoky Mountain) 

• Tim Rowan, Pennsylvania (North Central PA) 

• Jim Schoeck, Illinois (Rock Island-Henry) 

• Kevin Seehafer, Minnesota (Big Stone) 

• Tony Selley, Utah (Cache Valley) 

About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 560,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 740 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 585,000 habitat projects benefiting 35 million acres. 

Media Contact
Mikayla Peper
715-294-0688
mpeper@pheasantsforever.org