Pheasants Forever looks to triple number of Farm Bill Biologists in state
Bismarck, ND – August 11, 2009 – North Dakota Pheasants Forever announces tickets for its 2009 “21 Gun Salute” raffle are on sale now. Only 2,100 tickets are available, and all proceeds from the raffle will be used to expand Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill Biologist program in the state.
Guns included in the 21 Gun Salute include recognizable names such as Franchi, Beretta, Winchester, Browning, Benelli, Remington, Stoeger and more. Tickets for a chance at winning one of the 21 guns are $20, and winners will be drawn on January 8th, 2010, at the North Dakota Pheasants Forever State Habitat Convention in Mandan.
“We’re pleased to offer a fun raffle that gives hunters, conservationists and gun enthusiasts the opportunity to win some top-of-the-line firearms, all in the name of creating wildlife habitat” said Jesse Beckers, Pheasants Forever Regional Wildlife Biologist in North Dakota, “Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill Biologist program is off to a strong start in North Dakota, and this raffle will help generate funding to continue the much-needed expansion of the program.”
Designed to educate farmers and landowners about the benefits of conservation programs (such as the Conservation Reserve Program) as well as assist those farmers and landowners after programs have been implemented, Pheasants Forever first began employing Farm Bill Biologists in 2003 and now has 36 Farm Bill Biologists working in six states – Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In just over six years, Farm Bill Biologists have contacted and consulted 28,065 landowners, resulting in the improvement of nearly 1.3 million acres!
Since May of 2008, Pheasants Forever has had one Farm Bill Biologist in North Dakota, Steve Stensgard, based out of Jamestown, who has contacted and consulted with over 500 landowners, and planned approximately 32,000 acres through the Conservation Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Technical Assistance.
“Steve is proof of how successful this program can be,” Beckers said, “In a state that is losing Conservation Reserve Program acres literally by the thousands, expanding this program will help us regain some of that critical habitat one acre at a time.” Pheasants Forever is currently looking to add additional Farm Bill Biologists in Dickinson and Forman.
TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKET for the North Dakota 21 Gun Salute, make check payable to Pheasants Forever, 624 6th Ave. NW, Valley City, North Dakota 58072, or contact Jesse Beckers at (701)202-8120 or via email jbeckers@pheasantsforever.org.
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are non-profit conservation organizations dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant, quail, and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, and education. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 125,000 members in 750 local chapters across the continent.
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For additional information about Pheasants Forever, please visit www.PheasantsForever.org
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