Ortonville, Minn. – October 23, 2008 – Pheasants Forever (PF) announces Travis Issendorf is the organization’s new Farm Bill Biologist in Big Stone County, Minnesota. Issendorf comes to PF after two years as a wildlife technician for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The position was created through partnership funding from the Farm Bill Assistance Partnership, the Big Stone Soil and Water Conservation District and the Big Stone County Chapter of PF. Issendorf will work out of the Big Stone County USDA Service Center in Ortonville, Minnesota.
The Farm Bill Biologist program is designed to educate farmers and landowners about the benefits of conservation programs, as well as assist those farmers and landowners after programs have been implemented. Pheasants Forever first began employing Farm Bill Biologists in 2005, and now has 36 Farm Bill Biologists working in seven states – Ohio, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin and North Dakota. Last year, Farm Bill Biologists contacted and consulted 5,400 landowners, resulting in the improvement of 310,000 acres of land for wildlife.
“This position’s primary purpose is to work with landowners to assist them in understanding conservation options, and accelerate enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Program and other Farm Bill conservation provisions that work with farm operations,” said Jim Inglis, PF Farm Bill Biologist Coordinator, “Issendorf possesses knowledge of federal, state, and local programs that will assist landowners in finding the right program and funding to meet their personal habitat and land use goals.”
“I’m excited to get back to Minnesota and work to protect the natural resources that make this state so great,” said Issendorf, a native of Litchfield, Minnesota, “I’ve had a lifelong passion for the outdoors, and I look forward to working hand-in-hand with landowners to promote wildlife habitat conservation.”
Issendorf earned a degree in Biology from Bemidji State University. He also worked previously for the Minnesota Conservation Corps, Ducks Unlimited and the South Carolina Waterfowl Association. Issendorf can be contacted at (320)839-6149 x3 or via email at tissendorf@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. PF/QF has more than 129,000 members in 700 local chapters across the continent.
For additional information about Pheasants Forever, please visit www.PheasantsForever.org
