Quail Forever & Pheasants Forever has named five new recruits that will join the organization’s National Youth Leadership Council – an advisory board from around the country, ages 12-18 – who represent the conservation community for their age group. The new faces of the National Youth Leadership Council will join their existing colleagues in advocating for youth-oriented outdoor and habitat programs, along with conservation initiatives nationwide.

Quail Forever & Pheasants Forever’s National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) was formed in 2006 and is praised as one of the most proactive panels in the country for developing youth leaders with an emphasis on conservation. Representing a vast portion of the nation’s pheasant and quail ranges, council representatives have worked on such important issues as bringing attention to the Federal Farm Bill and more recently, advocating for Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, the North American Wetland’s Conservation Act, and the Land & Water Conservation Fund.

In addition to promoting conservation on state and national stages, NYLC members also contribute to conservation education through the following:

• Provide communications on the importance of introducing youth and families to the outdoors
• Work with local and state resource agencies
• Help organize shooting sports teams
• Serve in officer roles for their local chapters
• Conduct habitat and youth pollinator projects
• Conduct community events that recruit hunters and cultivate land stewards

“We continue to be impressed with members of the National Youth Leadership Council and are thrilled to add these outstanding new individuals to our team,” stated Marissa Jensen, education and outreach program manager for Quail Forever. “The work they have accomplished and will continue to do makes a significant impact on wildlife conservation.”

2020 Recruiting Class

Ashlyn Ness – Residing in LeRoy, Minnesota, Ness enjoys spending much of her time outdoors camping, hiking, and hunting and has been involved as a mentor during Upper Iowa River Pheasants Forever’s T.U.N.E camp. Ness is extremely excited to be chosen for the NYLC and is looking forward to doing her part to positively impact land management practices in her community for wildlife and humans alike.

Hannah Latham – A 16-year old from Ohio, Latham was nominated by Adams Brown County Sportsman Club Quail Forever Chapter. Latham has served as her local 4-H club’s officer and is involved with competitive shooting through trap and steel shooting teams. Latham is passionate about the outdoors and spreading this love for wildlife habitat and conservation with others.

Hayden Frazer – Nominated by the Southeast Wisconsin Pheasants Forever Chapter, 14-year-old Frazer has been involved with his chapter’s burn team for the past several years. Additionally, Frazer serves a very active role in his Boy Scouts troop and was recently voted as Patrol Leader. Frazer is excited to share his knowledge and the importance of wildlife habitat and conservation with others.

Hunter McDonnell – Nominated by the local Texas Women on the Wing Quail Forever chapter, McDonnell is passionate about wildlife conservation and habitat restoration, recognizing the importance for not only hunters, but for everyone.

“The work to protect habitat for pollinators and birds is essential to the protection of our food and water sources. This is a message that every person on this planet must care about. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever is ‘The Habitat Organization,’ and this is what we must protect,” stated McDonnell. Additionally, McDonnell is involved in Cub Scouts and is working toward his future as an Eagle Scout.

Nathan Schwab – Nominated by Northern Polk Pheasants Forever Chapter, Schwab enjoys helping his local chapter with their learn-to-hunt events. In 2018 he began his journey as an Eagle Scout and has been working toward increasing the population of one of Iowa’s native birds. Schwab strongly believes in advocacy and conservation efforts to support our passion for hunting and the outdoors.

About Quail Forever

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 138,000 members and 760 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent over $900 million on 550,000 habitat projects benefiting 19 million acres nationwide.