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April 28, 2006
Press Release

Pheasants Forever Gives Youngsters a Voice on Conservation

New Youth Leadership Council Formed

Saint Paul, Minn. - April 17, 2006 - Pheasants Forever (PF) has selected 19 youths from around the country to form the first-ever National Youth Leadership Council. The Council's participants, all ages 10 to 16, will serve as advisors and spokespeople for their age group on issues related to the outdoors, conservation, hunting, and PF.

The National Youth Leadership Council is the brainchild of Cheryl Riley, PF's youth program coordinator. "At Pheasants Forever, we believe kids are able to speak and think for themselves. They have valuable things to say about the outdoors and we are eager to listen to them and learn from them," reported Riley.

Participants in the Council will be asked to offer content ideas for the PF youth magazine "Upland Tales," as well as content suggestions for the PF website. The participants will also discuss outdoor youth activities and youth-related initiatives for PF chapters and the national headquarters. Riley will seek input from the participants through phone calls, conference calls, and emails.

"It's no secret that youth participation in hunting and the outdoors is declining at an alarming rate. That participation in the outdoors is critical to creating the passion for nature. That passion is what translates into a desire to be good land stewards as adults," added Riley. "It is our hope that this new Youth Leadership Council will provide us with the tools to engage today's youngsters in conservation, camping, fishing, and our hunting heritage."

According to research, today's youth are spending half as much time in the outdoors as their parents did as children. In fact, for every ten hunters, there are only seven youth ready to replace them. And, people who don't hunt as youth are less likely to hunt as adults. Instead of participating in outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking, today's youth are spending an average of 30 plus hours a week on electronic devices like video games, computers, and television.

PF chapters with a history of emphasis and demonstrated success with youth programs were asked to nominate a youngster to the Council. The new National Youth Leadership Council includes the following
participants:

1) Tyler Baer, 14, of Portage, Ohio - Nominated by Wood-Lucas Ohio PF Chapter

2) Ashley Bishop, 14, of Litchfield, Illinois - Nominated by Montgomery County Illinois PF Chapter

3) Sam Dokkebakken, 10, of Big Lake, Minnesota - Nominated by Sherburne County Minnesota PF Chapter

4) Heather Eaton, 14, of Cherokee, Iowa - Nominated by Cherokee County Iowa PF Chapter

5) Travis Hill, 12, of Akron, Colorado - Nominated by Washington County Colorado PF Chapter

6) Nate Iverson, 13, of Chamberlain, South Dakota - Nominated by Missouri River South Dakota PF Chapter

7) Nate Long, 12, of Billings, Montana - Nominated by Yellowstone Valley Montana PF Chapter

8) Ashley Lopez, 16, of Selma, Indiana - Nominated by East Central Indiana PF Chapter

9) Andrew O’Connor, 13, of Greeley, Nebraska - Nominated by Cedar River Ringnecks Nebraska PF Chapter

10) Brian Olsen, 14, of Eleva, Wisconsin - Nominated by Chippewa Valley Wisconsin PF Chapter

11) Clare Perry, 16, of Leoti, Kansas - Nominated by Ringneck Renegades Kansas PF Chapter

12) Sara Polge, 13, of Syracuse, New York - Nominated by Central New York PF Chapter

13) Jacob Robinson, 10, of Hastings, Minnesota - Nominated by Mississippi Longtails Minnesota PF Chapter

14) Trevor Schuster, 12, of Idaho Falls, Idaho - Nominated by Upper Snake River Idaho PF Chapter

15) Amelia Tykoski, 10, of Fowlerville, Michigan - Nominated by Livingston County Michigan PF Chapter

16) Brooks VanDerBeek, 12, of Oskaloosa, Iowa - Nominated by Mahaska County Iowa PF Chapter

17) Matt Vavroch, 14, of Montezuma, Iowa - Nominated by Poweshiek County Iowa PF Chapter

18) Jay Wilsey, 13, of Montrose, Iowa - Nominated by Lee County Iowa PF Chapter

19) Rylee Young, 13, of Atkinson, Nebraska - Nominated by Niobrara Valley #289 PF Chapter

When asked why he would like to serve on the Council, Tyler Baer replied, "My brother, sister, and I have been involved with the outdoors and wildlife conservation with my parents since I was born. Through my experiences, I can show you are never too young to use our resources, but you also have to protect them for the future."

"We have a farm with land in CRP and I help wildlife by planting trees and bushes on our farm," added Sam Dokkebakken. "I think conserving natural resources is very important for a good future."

And Rylee Young, who is one of seven girls on the Council, offered her perspective on being a part of the Council, "I would like to promote hunting to kids, particularly girls. I would like to show them how enjoyable hunting is. I have been hunting for the last four years with my dad who has been involved with the local Pheasants Forever chapter for several years. I was involved in a youth mentor hunt last fall and have also been to several banquets."

Youths interested in joining PF, can sign up for a Ringnecks youth membership. The Ringnecks membership comes with a year's subscription to the "Upland Tales" magazine (4 issues), a Ringnecks membership card, and an invitation to your local PF chapter banquet. To sign up, call PF toll free at (877)773-2070 or log onto the PF website at www.PheasantsForever.org.
Ringnecks membership is $15 annually.

PF is a non-profit conservation organization 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. Such efforts benefit landowners and wildlife alike. There are more than 110,000 PF members in 600 local chapters across the U.S. and Canada.

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