Aurora, Colo. – June 16, 2010 – Pheasants Forever <http://www.pheasantsforever.org/> has added three new Farm Bill biologists in Colorado through a partnership with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The partnering groups are focused on protecting environmentally sensitive agricultural lands through conservation programs and improving public hunting lands for wildlife.
“Partnerships are critical to accomplishing our habitat mission in this day and age,” explained Bob Hix, Pheasants Forever’s regional field representative for Colorado. “All 17 Pheasants Forever chapters in the state, the Division of Wildlife, and the NRCS have joined together in partnership to fund these three new positions. These new employees will translate into thousands of acres of improved habitat and hunting access.”
Pheasants Forever’s Farm Bill Biologist <http://www.pheasantsforever.org/page/1/FarmBillBiologists.jsp> program is designed to educate farmers and landowners – through one-on-one consulting – about the benefits of conservation programs (such as the Conservation Reserve Program and Environmental Quality Incentives Program), as well as assisting farmers and landowners through program implementation. Pheasants Forever first began employing Farm Bill Biologists in 2003 and now has more than 50 biologists working in ten states – Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Farm Bill Biologists have contacted and consulted with over 30,000 landowners, resulting in the improvement of more than 1.3 million acres of land for wildlife.
“The establishment of three new Farm Bill biologists in eastern Colorado really builds on each partners’ ability to deliver conservation to the landscape. Wildlife, private landowners, and wildlife enthusiasts will benefit greatly from the fruits of this partnership,” added Ed Gorman, Colorado Division of Wildlife’s small game coordinator.
The new Colorado Farm Bill Biologists include:
Holyoke: Jerry Miller is a native of Northeastern Colorado, having grown up on a farm near the North Sterling Reservoir. He graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in forest management and most recently was employed as a conservation technician for the Haxtun and Sedgwick County Conservation Districts. He’s also been an active volunteer in PF’s Leopold Education Project and a member of the Phillips County PF Chapter. Jerry can be emailed at jmiller@pheasantsforever.org <mailto:jmiller@pheasantsforever.org> .
Burlington:Kraig Paulson is moving to Colorado this week. Paulson holds a biology degree from the University of Wyoming and has been employed by Pheasants Forever since 2006. He started out as a PF habitat specialist in Montana and has spent the last couple years working as Pheasants Forever’s regional biologist for Washington and Oregon. Kraig can be contacted at kpaulson@pheasantsforever.org <mailto:kpaulson@pheasantsforever.org> .
Lamar:An Iowa native, Nathan Schmitz graduated from Iowa State University. Prior to joining Pheasants Forever, Schmitz worked for the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the University of Wyoming studying sage grouse. Nathan can be reached at nschmitz@pheasantsforever.org <mailto:nschmitz@pheasantsforever.org> .
