This February, Quail Forever members from South Carolina will take part in the Southeastern Wildlife Expo (SEWE). The annual event, which takes place in Charleston, South Carolina, brings together wildlife artists, artisans, collectors and sporting enthusiasts from across the country to connect through their shared passion for wildlife.
The event began in 1983, but this will be the first year Quail Forever attends as an exhibitor. Members of the state’s five chapters will operate what’s known as “Quail Village” for the duration of the three-day event, in collaboration with other quail-centric organizations like the South Carolina Bobwhite Initiative and the Long Leaf Alliance. Chapter volunteers will help sell QF memberships and raffle tickets, as well as answer quail and habitat questions from attendees.
“If an attendee has a question that’s even remotely quail related, there will be somebody in that tent who can answer it,” said Kenny Barker, Quail Forever’s regional representative in South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Alabama. “Whether they’re hunters or land owners who want habitat ideas for their property, we’ll be able to help them.”
Quail Forever will also host two banquets throughout the weekend. On Friday, February 18, 2022, Quail Forever will host a luncheon for all South Carolina chapters from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the South Carolina Bobwhite Initiative will also attend. At the event, Quail Forever will recognize local volunteer Tim Askins, who’ll be presented the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative’s “Firebird Award” recognizing outstanding work in quail conservation. Askins is a Quail Forever chapter president who helped spearhead the organization’s first land acquisition in South Carolina. The “Bobwhite Hills” project in Lee and Sumter Counties will open up 790-acres for public access.
“Tim was the driving force behind a lot of that project,” Barker said. “And even beyond that, he’s incredibly committed in general to getting Quail Forever to the next level in South Carolina. In the last two years he’s held three fundraisers for us and increased our membership by over 300 people. He’s done some really incredible things for us.”
Additionally, the Low Country Chapter of Quail Forever will host a banquet at the Charleston Yacht Club as part of the SEWE celebration on Saturday, February 19, 2022. This event will be open to the general public, and Barker said he hopes to have at least 300 people in attendance. This banquet will be a great opportunity for people who are unfamiliar with Quail Forever to learn about the organization.
The weekend in general is a chance for Quail Forever chapters across the state of South Carolina to increase their visibility among a large, like-minded audience.
“Quail Forever is a really good fit with SEWE,” Barker said. “There’s a lot of quail hunters in the area, as well as other folks who re passionate about habitat. It’ll be a great opportunity for us to get in front of a lot of people and grow our organization and habitat mission in the state.”
To purchase tickets to the Quail Forever chapter events connected with SEWE, go to www.PheasantsForeverEvents.org and look up events in South Carolina. Tickets and more information about the Southeastern Wildlife Expo can be found at www.SEWE.com.
Casey Sill is the public relations specialist at the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever national headquarters in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.