|  08/06/2014

PF Names Six New Members to National Youth Leadership Council


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Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever announce six new members to its National Youth Leadership Council. The new participants include Jared Austin of Kansas, Kyle Holden, Donald Ogden and Hunter Spenle of Wisconsin, Travis Smith of Minnesota and Jacob Wietzema of Iowa. Established in 2006, the organization’s National Youth Leadership Council is comprised of 20 young people from around the country nominated by a local Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever chapter. Participants serve as spokespersons for their age group on hunting and conservation issues and advise PF/QF on youth programs.
 
“We all believe youth are the future of conservation. At Pheasants Forever, the National Youth Leadership Council is our way of putting action behind a phrase in danger of becoming a cliché,” explained Rich Wissink, the organization’s National Youth Program Manager. “I’m excited about the passion for wildlife habitat these six new council members bring to our already talented group of young conservation leaders.”
 
New National Youth Leadership Council members include: 
 
Jared Austin of McPherson, Kans. – Nominated by the McPherson Area Chapter of Pheasants Forever – Austin is a 14-year-old who enjoys hunting, fishing, and World War II history. He’s active in his local church and a hard-working volunteer with the local Pheasants Forever chapter.
 
Kyle Holden of Boyceville, Wis. – Nominated by the Red Cedar Chapter of Pheasants Forever – Holden is an eighth grader who enjoys hunting, shooting trap, fishing, team sports, and is a member of his local FFA and 4-H. He’s also assistant vice president of the Chippewa Valley Young Guns Pheasants Forever Youth Club, which was recognized as the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation’s Conservationist Youth Group of the Year for 2013.
 
Donald Ogden of Irma, Wis. - Nominated by the Lincoln County Chapter of Pheasants Forever – Ogden is an avid trap shooter and enjoys hunting with his yellow Lab named “Samantha.” He also enjoys archery, fishing, FFA and is taking a leadership role in the chapter’s new pollinator habitat project.
 
Hunter Spenle of Colfax, Wis. – Nominated by the Red Cedar Chapter of Pheasants Forever – Like Kyle Holden, Spenle is also a member of the Chippewa Valley Young Guns Pheasants Forever Youth Club. Spenle serves as the group’s treasurer and enjoys hunting, archery, trap shooting and fishing.
 
Travis Smith of Cottage Grove, Minn. – Nominated by the Mississippi Longtails Chapter of Pheasants Forever – Smith is a sophomore at Park High School where he was a member and leader on the school’s inaugural trap shooting team last season. He’s also a very active Boy Scout and avid hunter.
 
Jacob Wietzema of Sibley, Iowa - Nominated by the Osceola County Chapter of Pheasants Forever – Witzema is a 15-year-old who enjoys the outdoors, reading and team sports. He also loves training his bird dog, a wirehaired pointing griffon named “Boomer.” Wietzema is an active member of the chapter and assists with fundraising, habitat and youth events.
 
“As I read these youngster’s bios and application essays, I couldn’t help but be optimistic about the future of hunting and conservation,” added Wissink. “They share the land stewardship values and passion for sharing our outdoor traditions that is found throughout Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever volunteers across the country. They aren’t just the future, they are leading today.”
 
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s National Youth Leadership Council has worked on such important issues as bringing attention to the Federal Farm Bill and its significance to wildlife habitat conservation. In fact, members of the group met with U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives during the last Farm Bill debate to voice their generation’s concerns for conservation. They have also helped pass state legislation to reduce age restrictive barriers to introduce young people to hunting.

Field Notes are compiled by Anthony Hauck, Pheasants Forever’s online editor. Email Anthony at AHauck@pheasantsforever.org and follow him on Twitter @AnthonyHauckPF.