Zach Eddy of St. John was recently selected as Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever’s (QF) first senior farm bill wildlife biologist. Prior to his promotion, Eddy worked as a farm bill wildlife biologist, working with landowners to enroll in state and federal conservation programs. In his new role, Eddy will act as a team leader for Kansas farm bill wildlife biologists, while continuing to work with local landowners for habitat improvement.
A Dodge City native, Eddy grew up in the farming and ranching community and many of his earliest memories consist of being outdoors with his family. Following his graduation from Bethel College in 2005 with a B.A. in biology, Eddy worked in various conservation positions before starting his career with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever in December 2011.
Eddy noted he is proud to have the chance to expand PF/QF’s impact in his home state. “I’m humbled and honored to have been offered this opportunity, and I look forward to helping our passionate Kansas team, chapters, and partners advance their collective missions in the coming years,” said Eddy.
In his role as a farm bill wildlife biologist, Eddy delivered conservation programs to private landowners in seven counties. There, he made over 700 landowner contacts, wrote habitat plans or developed program contracts for over 20,000 acres of land, and gave more than 40 presentations to diverse audiences on conservation and landscape improvement. Additionally, Eddy worked with PF/QF’s federal and state partners make positive changes to conservation programs for the betterment of landowners and wildlife.
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever currently have eight farm bill wildlife biologist positions in located in Kansas, and over 100 other farm bill wildlife biologist positions located throughout the country. This is a partnership position made possible by Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Natural Resources Conservation Service of Kansas, and Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.
Eddy, his fiancé, Maura, and their pets currently make their home in Saint John. For more information on the Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist Program or “The Habitat Organization” in Kansas, please contact Zac at ZEddy@pheasantsforever.org or (620)549-3480 ext. 110.
Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 135,000 members and 745 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent, the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure.
-30-
Rehan Nana, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's public relations specialist, at (651) 209-4973 or email Rehan