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Quail Forever's 20th Anniversary

Watercolor by Christa Newberry


THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO TELL A STORY, AND THAT IS TO START AT THE BEGINNING

This is the story of Quail Forever, written in dates and events, growing membership and chapter numbers, conservation policy wins, grassroots initiatives, pivotal moments and achievements, and, perhaps most importantly, acres of habitat. It is a story defined by resilience and a deeprooted commitment to preserving quail habitat across America. Each milestone reflects the power of unity and a shared mission. Looking back, Quail Forever has grown from a single chapter into a national force for conservation – and we are only getting started.

2004

August 2004

George W. Bush announces the creation of “Bobwhite Buffers” at Pheasants Forever’s request at a PF event in southern Minnesota.

2005

January 2005

A group of the country’s foremost quail biologistsand PF leaders gathered in Stuttgart, AR to discuss the creation of Quail Forever.

 

August 2005

Quail Forever is founded, and the first chapter is formed using PF’s unique chapter model, empowering local chapter volunteers with 100% control of the dollars they raise.

 

October 2005

The first issue of “The Whistler” newsletter is released. It contained the first annual Quail Hunting Forecast.

2006

March 2006

39 QF chapters formed in 17 states.

 

April 2006

The first issue of Quail Forever Journal is mailed to members.

 

May 2006

The first QF habitat projects begin in 16 states.

2007

February 2007

The CP-38 (SAFE) program is announced at Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic which contained many state-focused quail initiatives.

2008

August 2008

QF makes its first land acquisition, 94 acres in Union County, Ohio.

 

November 2008

QF plays a key role in creating the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Improvement Program through the Farm Bill. This program supports initiatives such as Kansas’ WIHA, Missouri’s MRAP, and Arizona’s LRP.

2010

January 2010

QF partners with USDA on the Longleaf Pine Initiative to reverse the decline of longleaf pine quail habitat.

 

August 2010

QF makes its first land acquisition in the western U.S., Camas Creek WMA, in Idaho.

2012

March 2012

“Quail Classic” was added to the Pheasant Fest moniker when the annual event visited Kansas City, Missouri.

 

October 2012

QF hires its 50th staff biologist focused on quail.

2013

April 2013

QF reaches 10,000 members.

 

July 2013

QF reaches 1 million acres of habitat improvement.

2014

January 2014

QF forms its 100th chapter, expanding its chapter presence to 23 states.

2015

October 2015

QF partners with USDA to implement “CP33,” the Conservation Reserve Program’s “habitat for upland birds” practice.

2016

November 2016

QF hires its 100th staff biologist dedicated to quail conservation.

2017

March 2017

QF reaches 150 active chapters in 27 states.

2018

September 2018

The first episode of the “On the Wing” podcast airs.

2019

December 2019

QF completes five land acquisitions in five states (KS, IA, NE, OK, and MO) during a single year.

2021

January 2021

QF supports the implementation of NRCS’ Working Lands for Wildlife: Northern Bobwhite, Grasslands, and Savannas Framework and helps pave the way for America’s most focused effort to restore upland birds.

 

July 2021

QF reaches 5 million acres of habitat improvement.

2022

November 2022

QF completes its first land acquisition in the Southeast, permanently protecting 774 acres of bobwhite habitat in South Carolina.

2023

April 2023

Howard Vincent retires as President & CEO of the Habitat Organization, passing the torch to PF and QF’s current President and CEO, Marilyn Vetter.

2024

March 2024

QF collaborates with USDA to launch the Northern Bobwhite Pilot Project. This 5-year, 7-million-acre project is the first federal funding effort dedicated solely to northern bobwhite habitat.

 

July 2024

QF reaches over 7 million acres of improved habitat.

By the Numbers

20,000+

Quail Forever Members

220+

Quail Focused Biologists

200+

Active Quail Forever Chapters

61

Land Aquisition Projects

14,000+

Acres Acquired for Public Access

7,000,000+

Acres of Habitat Improvement



 

The watercolor quail paintings on this page come from Quail Forever Journal’s winter cover. The cover art features Christa Newberry’s “Quail in Color,” a stunning representation of North America’s six native quail species – bobwhite, scaled, mountain, Montezuma, Gambel’s, and valley quail. To create it, Newberry sourced pigment powders from each region where these six quail species are found, using the materials to craft custom watercolors. The process of grinding pigments and creating paint brought her closer to the landscapes and birds she painted. Each color was chosen with care, reflecting the specific habitat each quail species calls home.

This article originally appeared in the Winter Issue of Quail Forever Journal. If you like this content and would like to see more of it, consider supporting Quail Forever as an annual member: among many other benefits, you'll receive the Quail Forever Journal 5x/year in your mailbox.