Fresno County Conservationists Form Pheasants Forever Chapter
Golden State’s newest PF chapter geared to connect youth to conservation and the outdoors
Fresno, Calif. – December 31, 2007 – Concerned with the future of conservation in the area, residents in California’s Fresno County have formed the state’s newest Pheasants Forever chapter (PF), known as the Central Valley Chapter of PF. The chapter’s main focus is youth hunter and conservation education.
The chapter is led by newly-elected president Rick Smith of Fresno, an avid upland hunter and breeder and trainer of German Shorthair Pointers. After deciding his area was in desperate need of a Pheasants Forever chapter, Smith found the support needed to get the chapter going amongst his family and fellow hunting buddies.
The chapter feels the best impact can be made by engaging youth in the outdoors – grooming the next generation of hunters and conservationists. “When my father was 16-years-old, he could go out and bag a limit of roosters in this area. Due to habitat losses, that’s impossible today,”Smith said, “If something isn’t done about it, my three children and future generations will not have wild hunting opportunities.” The chapter already plans on holding a series of youth conservation education events and youth hunts as ways to accomplish its objective.
Smith said the chapter also feels strong about PF’s localized model. PF is the only national conservation organization that empowers local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally-raised conservation funds are spent. This local control allowschapters to see the fruits of their chapter efforts in their own communities. “It’s important to get these efforts going here in FresnoCounty, and we’re excited that through Pheasants Forever, we can see them grow and flourish over time,” Smith said.
The Central Valley chapter has also elected Dan Kerber of Fresno as treasurer, Brian Orange of Auberry as vice president, and Scott Kovacevich of Fresno as banquet chair. For more information on the chapter, including upcoming meetings and events, contact Rick Smith at (559)960-9757 or viaemail at ricksgsp@sbcglobal.net.
For more information on PF in California, to start a chapter or join one of the state’s eight existing chapters, contact Cade Powell, PF Regional Wildlife Biologist, at (208)552-2436 or via email at cpowell@pheasantsforever.org.
