Quail Forever Announces First Farm Bill Range & Wildlife Conservationist in NW Oklahoma

In a unique partnership with state and federal agencies, Quail Forever is excited to announce Haley Lockard as the organization’s first Farm Bill Range and Wildlife Conservationist in Oklahoma. Lockard will provide conservation assistance to ranchers, producers, and private landowners in the state’s northwest region to directly benefit the lesser prairie chicken and other upland wildlife species in the short and mixed grass prairies of the Sooner State.

Since its emergence in 2004, the Farm Bill Biologist Partnership has provided valuable benefits to landowners throughout the country who are interested in voluntary conservation programs. In her strategic position as Farm Bill Range and Wildlife Conservationist, Lockard will provide technical assistance to state and governmental agencies alongside assisting private landowners in designing, developing, and funding habitat improvements to meet their habitat and land use goals. The partnership has impacted nearly 7 million acres since its inception, including conservation assistance to more than 175,000 landowners.

“I am most excited for the opportunity to work with landowners and partner organizations to implement habitat management that can be mutually advantageous for landowners, sportsmen, agencies, and the incredible wildlife of Oklahoma,” stated Lockard.

Originally from Missouri, Lockard received her B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. Complemented by a passion for the outdoors and personal wildlife management experience, previous work includes the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Deer Program (MDC). In her role at MDC, Lockard coordinated the implementation of the state’s Chronic Wasting Disease surveillance. Additionally, former experience with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks gave Lockard a unique set of communication skills among her scientific expertise that will prove effective in collaborating with landowners and producers in Oklahoma to strengthen wildlife management efforts.

Previously under the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in 2014, the lesser prairie chicken (LPC) is a proud emblem of Oklahoma. The LPC is currently listed as a sensitive (rare) species on U.S. Forest Service National Grasslands in western Oklahoma, according to a recent study conducted by Oklahoma State University. With upland habitat decreasing 90 percent in the past two centuries due to increased agricultural demands, rangeland degradation, improper grazing practices and fire suppression, the range planning assistance and conservation program implementation provided by Lockard will be a mutually beneficial partnership for upland wildlife and landowners alike.

Lockard officially starts as the Oklahoma Farm Bill and Range Wildlife Conservationist on July 31st and can be contacted at hlockard@pheasantsforever.org or (580) 735-2033 x 104.

About Quail Forever
 
Quail Forever is a leading organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation efforts for the United States’ native quail species. Since its creation in 2005, Quail Forever has conducted more than 8,500 habitat projects across the nation benefitting quail and other wildlife. Along with its affiliate organization Pheasants Forever, it has committed more than $708 million to improve more than 15.8 million acres of wildlife habitat. Quail Forever has more than 16,000 members and 165 local chapters across the country. Both Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever are part of Pheasants Forever, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit. 
 
Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953
jwiklund@pheasantsforever.org