Celebrating Pheasants, Quail, Monarchs, Management and Access
By Rachel Bush, Private Lands Conservation Program Manager
Habitat - hab·i·tat – noun – the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.
One simple word can mean so much. At the Habitat Organization, habitat is what drives our mission. We understand the importance to creating, maintaining, and enhancing habitat for all wildlife species, winged and otherwise, that we cherish. The 2023 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic will offer a number of opportunities for you to brush up on all things habitat. Whether it’s sitting down with one of our technical experts to get a one-on-one consultation for your property at the Habitat Help Desk or listening it one of many topics featured on the Habitat Stage, we have what you’re looking for.
The Habitat Stage is back again at the 2023 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic with a line-up that is sure to have something for everyone. Learn from experts on topics ranging from pheasants to quail to predators, to creating high quality habitat on small acreage to gardening for pollinators. The Habitat Stage runs all weekend during show floor hours and is sponsored by key Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever partners: John Deere, BASF and United Sorghum Checkoff.
Some highlights I recommend checking out include:
» Doug Duren will be on the Habitat Stage talking about the Sharing the Land Access initiative. Modeled after Aldo Leopold’s Riley Game Cooperative, learn more about the relationship people have with the land and with each other. This new Initiative seeks to connect landowners with hunters and private land access seekers, to build a land ethic that results in greater connectivity between the three.
» The Monarch Joint Venture will be joining us on the stage to talk about gardening for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Learn what you can do to help these iconic species in your own backyard.
» Last but not least, be sure to catch one of the presentations from our partners at the Minnesota DNR or the US Fish and Wildlife Service where you can learn about the connection between predation and habitat or find new opportunities to restore habitat on your property.
See the the full schedule below. We cannot wait to see you there!
Seminar Schedule
2023 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic:
Habitat Stage Seminar Lineup
| Time |
Topic |
Speaker(s) |
| Friday |
1:00 |
Pheasant predators and habitat |
Tim Lyons Ph.D., MN DNR |
| 1:30 |
Pheasant ecology in a dynamic agroecosystem |
Dr. Ben Geaumont, NDSU Extension |
| 2:00 |
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program |
Scott James, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| 3:00* |
USFWS Leadership Forum & Partnership Unveil |
PF & QF staff and leadership from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
| 4:00 |
Sharing the Land, a Conservation Cooperators Network |
Doug Duren |
| 5:00 |
Gardening for Monarch Butterflies and other Pollinators |
Katie-Lyn Bunney, Monarch Joint Venture |
| 5:30 |
Restoring the Natural State: The Arkansas Way |
Ciera Rhodes, Quail Forever |
| Saturday |
10:00 |
Sharing the Land, a Conservation Cooperators Network |
Doug Duren |
| 11:00* |
Farmer of the Year Awards Presented by John Deere |
PF & QF staff and John Deere |
| 12:00 |
Connecting Agriculture and Habitat for a Sustainable Future |
Ag Partnership Panel |
| 1:00 |
Pheasant ecology in a dynamic agroecosystem |
Dr. Ben Geaumont, NDSU Extension |
| 1:30 |
Making the Most of Your Back 40 |
Iowa PF & QF Farm Bill Biologist Team |
| 2:00 |
Restoring the Natural State: The Arkansas Way |
Ciera Rhodes, Quail Forever |
| 2:30 |
Pheasant predators and habitat |
Nicole Davros, MN DNR |
| 3:00* |
2023 Farm Bill Forum |
Congressional / USDA Leadership and PF & QF Govt. Affairs team |
| 4:00 |
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program |
Gregg Pattison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Sunday |
10:00 |
Pheasant ecology in a dynamic agroecosystem |
Dr. Ben Geaumont, NDSU Extension |
| 10:30 |
Making the Most of Your Back 40 |
Iowa PF & QF Farm Bill Biologist Team |
| 11:00 |
Sharing the Land, a Conservation Cooperators Network |
Doug Duren |
| 12:00* |
State of Conservation Panel / Meet & Greet |
CEO’s from the nation’s most prolific conservation groups |
| 1:00 |
Gardening for Monarch Butterflies and other Pollinators |
Elizabeth Egan, Monarch Joint Venture |
| 1:30 |
Restoring the Natural State: The Arkansas Way |
Ciera Rhodes, Quail Forever |
| 2:00 |
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program |
Grayson Smith, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| 3:00 |
Pheasant predators and habitat |
Tim Lyons Ph.D., MN DNR |
| *Taking Place on the Main Stage |
The 2023 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis on February 17-19. Tickets and more information can be found at: PheasantFest.org.