Marilyn Vetter is the new president and CEO of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. She takes over for the retired Howard Vincent who served since 2000. Now that she’s a few months into the role, Vetter tells Mid-West Farm Report about her background in conservation and what’s ahead for the organization.
“I was raised in a farming family, and my parents ran their farm with the mindset that they wanted the land to look better than the day they got it,” she says. “That mindset was instilled in all of us and is what sparked my interest in conservation.”
Vetter began her role Feb. 1, and says it has been more rewarding than she could have ever imagined.
“Meeting land use goals for farmers is one thing, but it’s also our job to ensure that wildlife habitat programs are profitable for rural economies and the farmers in those areas,” she says. “We help landowners take on projects that protect soil resources, enhance water quality, and add diverse wildlife practices through our Precision Conservation Program.”
Pheasants Forever employs about 400 wildlife biologists. They help landowners to determine the best course of action when it comes to using buffers, irrigation practices and more.
“Conservation programs are a natural fit in return for focusing on the underperforming acres across the farm,” Vetter adds. “The programs provide incredible environmental resources that can be financially competitive. They can be a major player for working lands across the United States.”
Conservation education is one of the three pillars that Pheasants Forever focuses on. This includes their Milkweed in the Classroom program, which provides milkweed kits for students to grow common milkweed stems. Another program they offer is a Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program, which helps create outdoor learning and pollinator habitats.
“Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever biologists are ready to help farmers achieve their goals for conservation and profitability,” says Vetter. “We value the opportunity to help America’s producers find the sweet spot between production agriculture and conservation.”
You can learn more about future field days, internships, and other conservation efforts at pheasantsforever.org or quailforever.org.