National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic Draws 22,136 to Kansas City
Pheasants Forever 02.20.12
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic concluded today, drawing 22,136 attendees to the weekend event at the Kansas City Convention Center. The national convention and outdoor tradeshow, presented by Cabela’s, was in Kansas City for the first time.
In addition to providing significant economic impact for the host city and attending outdoor industry vendors, Pheasants Forever uses its National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic to recruit members for its wildlife habitat conservation mission. More than 950 individuals signed up as Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever members.
The event also delivered wildlife habitat benefits specific to Kansas and Missouri. The Landowner Habitat Help Room at the show serviced 282 landowners providing conservation guidance on 123,726 acres of land predominately located in the neighboring states. Accompanied by a trained Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever biologist, or partnering biologist from Missouri Department of Conservation, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture, landowners were educated on ways they can improve their acres for wildlife and even what local, state, and federal conservation programs they qualify for enrollment.
“Kansas City exceeded our expectations for our signature event,” said Howard Vincent, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s President and CEO, “For us to grow our wildlife habitat impact, we need to grow the number of people connected to our organization. It was incredible to see so many new faces at the show and in particular we were thrilled to see so many quail enthusiasts come out to talk about quail habitat.”
Pheasants Forever will hold its next National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic on February 15, 16 and 17, 2013 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The event will mark the Twin Cities-based wildlife habitat conservation organization’s 30th anniversary. The organization last held its signature event in Minnesota in 2008 where a show-record 29,802 people attended.
Pheasants Forever launched Quail Forever in August of 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline. Bobwhite population losses over the last 25 years range from 60 to 90 percent across the country. The reason for the quail population plunge is simple - massive losses of habitat suitable for quail. There are five major factors leading to the losses of quail habitat; intensified farming and forestry practices, succession of grassland ecosystems to forests, overwhelming presence of exotic grasses like fescue that choke out wildlife, and urban sprawl.
