“Pollinator Plaza” a Buzzing New Attraction at 2017 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic

Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever is excited to announce a new exhibitor area at the 2017 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic devoted exclusively to the connection between honey bees, monarch butterflies, pheasants, quail and quality habitat. In conjunction with agency partner U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, “Pollinator Plaza” promotes businesses and organizations who are striving to improve the quality and quantity of diverse grassland habitat for pollinators and upland birds throughout the United States.

"Nature is complex and beautiful, all things are connected and this area of special recognition showcases the critical role pollinators play in proper land health and overall ecosystem management," explained Matt Filsinger, national team lead for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs. 
 
National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2017, presented by Federal Premium® Ammunition, will be the nation’s largest tradeshow and convention for upland hunters, landowners, sport dog trainers, and wildlife habitat conservationists. The event takes place at the Minneapolis Convention Center on February 17th – 19th and will play host to a Pollinator Symposium, National Pheasant Summit, as well as seminars, vendors, and hunting gear designed with upland hunters in mind. Registration for full-weekend, conservation luncheon, and Saturday night banquet and concert now available.
 
Featured “Pollinator Plaza” Exhibitor Categories:
 
·        Honey Producers, Beekeeping and Pollinator Education: Leading organizations for honey production, beekeeping supplies, and pollinator education in North America – American Beekeeping Federation, American Honey Producers Association, Monarch Joint Venture, Monarch Flyway, Save Our Monarchs, The Bee Shed, Pollinator Partnership
 
·        Pollinator Health: Organizations, agencies, and partnerships formed with the goal of reversing recent declines in honey bee health and ensuring the long-term health of honey bees and other pollinators – Honey Bee Health Coalition, Bayer Bee Care Program, Syngenta
 
·        Pollinator Habitat Conservation: Organizations and partnerships dedicated to establishing highly diverse pollinator habitat for bees, butterflies, upland birds, and other wildlife – The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund, Monarch Watch, Minnesota Native Landscapes, Prairie Restorations, Inc., Star Seed, Inc., Minnesota DNR, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Minnesota Board of Soil & Water Resources, Natural Shore Technologies, Glacial Ridge Growers      

About U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

USFWS is a government agency that strives to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Committed to natural resource conservation for over 125 years, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service manages over 150 million acres of National Wildlife Refuge System. The USFWS employs approximately 9,000 people at their facilities throughout the United States. For more information, go to https://www.fws.gov/.

About Pheasants Forever
 
Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 149,000 members and 720 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent; the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $708 million on 517,000 habitat projects benefiting 15.8 million acres nationwide.

Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
651-209-4953
jwiklund@pheasantsforever.org