Grafton, N.D. – July 12, 2010 – Dedicated pheasant hunters with high interest in conservation have formed the newest Pheasants Forever chapter in North Dakota. Known as the North Valley Pheasants Forever Chapter, the Walsh County group has rallied around introducing youth to outdoor activities.
“My family and I have been passionate about pheasant hunting and conservation for many years,” explained Jared Pokrzywinski, a Grafton, North Dakota, resident and the chapter’s first president. “With the current decline of outdoor interest from the next generation, I feel it’s important to promote activities to spark an interest in the outdoors from today’s youth.” North Valley Pheasants Forever joins the national Pheasants Forever organization’s No Child Left Indoors® initiative, a nationwide movement to get kids unplugged from electronics and turned on to the outdoors. The chapter will do this through activities such as mentored youth pheasant hunts and youth outdoor field days.
North Valley Pheasants Forever is the 29th chapter in North Dakota, and like all Pheasants Forever chapters nationwide, will retain control of the funds it raises. Pheasants Forever provides its local chapters the ability to decide how 100 percent of their fundraised dollars are spent. This local control gives chapters and members the ability to make things happen for wildlife in their communities, while belonging to a national organization advocating for wildlife and conservation in policy discussions in Washington, D.C.
“North Valley Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the future of pheasants, pheasant hunters, and the success of conservation,” explained Jesse Beckers, Pheasants Forever’s Regional Wildlife Biologist in North Dakota. “The chapter leaders and volunteers share common excitement for helping youngsters find themselves in the outdoors. The best way to make a difference is by getting involved, which this promising new Pheasants Forever chapter is doing.”
North Valley Pheasants Forever
The North Valley Chapter of Pheasants Forever has also elected LuWanna Lovcik of Pisek as treasurer; Merlyn Feltman of Grafton as banquet chair; and Ken Miskavige of Grafton as youth/education chair.
North Valley Chapter plans to hold its first banquet the winter of 2010-2011. The chapter is already being supported by local companies such as AgriMaxx and Grafton-Inn Gun Club.
For more information about meetings and banquets, contact Jared Pokrzywinski at (701) 360-5466 or via email at p12football@gmail.com.
North Dakota is home to 29 Pheasants Forever chapters and more than 3,300 Pheasants Forever members. For more info on “The Habitat Organization” in North Dakota, contact Jesse Beckers at (701) 202-8120 and jbeckers@pheasantsforever.org.
Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.
