ShopMinnesota's Kandiyohi County PF Chapter Spends $1 Million
Nation's first Pheasants Forever chapter has worked on over 6,000 acres
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Breezy Point, Minn. - January 23 -
The Kandiyohi County Chapter of Pheasants Forever (PF) was recognized at the Minnesota PF State Convention earlier this month for having spent $1 million on habitat and conservation education projects. Those chapter funds have completed 523 habitat projects benefiting over 6,000 acres within Kandiyohi County.
Since becoming the first PF chapter in the nation in 1983, the Kandiyohi Couny Chapter has planted 32,614 trees in 45 wintering areas. They have also created 2,278 acres of wildlife food plots and 1,912 acres of nesting cover. In addition to habitat projects, the chapter plays a key role in a Youth Conservation Day held at Prairie Learning Center and sponsors a hunter safety course impacting hundreds of local kids every year.
"The volunteers and the projects of Kandiyohi County Chapter of Pheasants Forever are truly amazing," reported Greg Kamrowski, president for the chapter. "We will briefly celebrate our accomplishments, but will go right back to work tackling the many challenges pheasants and their habitats face in Minnesota."
Under the PF model, local chapter leaders determine how best to spend 100 percent of funds raised locally. Public land acquisition has been one priority for the Kandiyohi County PF chapter, who has participated in three acquisitions totaling 306 acres. These acquisitions become open to public hunting as Minnesota DNR Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) or U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs).
"The Kandiyohi County PF Chapter does it all," stated Matt Holland, Minnesota's senior field coordinator for PF. "They do a fantastic job fundraising and are a great example for other chapters on how to use chapter funds locally. This chapter is very dedicated and has been longtime supporters of our Federal Farm Bill and conservation efforts."
The chapter will hold its 25th annual habitat fundraising banquet on Friday, March 16, 2007 at the Holiday Inn in Willmar. The public and media are invited to attend and celebrate past accomplishments and future goals. For more information on tickets, or to get involved with Kandiyohi County PF, call Greg Kamrowski at (320) 212-3505. If you are interested in starting a PF or Quail Forever chapter in Minnesota, contact Eran Sandquist, PF's regional wildlife biologist in Minnesota at (320)236-7755 or email esandquist@pheasantsforever.org.
PF and its quail division, Quail Forever, account for 700 chapters and 115,000 members across the continent. Since inception in 1982, the organization has spent nearly $200 million on wildlife habitat projects and conservation education. Those funds have translated into 300,000 habitat projects benefiting over 4 million acres across the continent. Charity Navigator, America's charity watchdog, gives PF their highest rating of 4 stars. In fact, Charity Navigator says that PF outperforms most non-profit organizations in America.
Bob St.Pierre (651)209-4931
Pheasants Forever is a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasants, quail and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness and education. Such efforts benefit landowners and wildlife alike.
