New Pheasants Forever Rep Looks to Add to Michigan’s Pheasant Restoration Initiative
OutdoorHub 09.28.11
Flushing, Mich. – September 22, 2011 – Pheasants Forever has named Ben Wickerham of Flushing, Michigan, as the organization’s new regional representative for the state of Michigan. Wickerham comes from a family of Pheasants Forever volunteers and has extensive conservation experience and knowledge of upland restoration practices in his home state of Michigan.
Wickerham, whose father was a founding member of the Montcalm Pheasants Forever chapter – one the state’s oldest Pheasants Forever chapters, looks to grow Pheasants Forever’s presence in Michigan, which is currently home to 36 Pheasants Forever chapters and more than 8,200 Pheasants Forever members. He will work at raising and expending funds on wildlife habitat and conservation education, and also with local, state, and federal natural resource agencies on behalf of Pheasants Forever chapters.
“A main objective as the new regional representative for Pheasants Forever is to move forward and make a lasting positive impact for upland hunters through Michigan’s new Pheasant Restoration Initiative,” says Wickerham, “I grew up hunting in Michigan and know the rich outdoor heritage we have as a community. From being a Pheasants Forever volunteer and seeing the positive impact the organization has, I knew working for ‘The Habitat Organization’ would be the best way to conserve the natural resources of my home state. I am confident we are going to continue seeing a positive pheasant trend in the years to come because of this outstanding new initiative and through the hard work of Pheasants Forever in our state.”
Launched in early 2011, the Michigan Pheasant Restoration Initiative’s goal is to reestablish the pheasant as a prolific game bird in specific regions of the state. The Initiative also has the potential to change small game hunting opportunities, increase other wildlife populations, improve hunter satisfaction and help Michigan’s economy.
Prior to taking the position with Pheasants Forever, Wickerham spent over four years working with various Michigan conservation districts helping to promote outdoor youth education, something he plans to continue promoting in his new role with Pheasants Forever. A native of Sheridan, Michigan, Wickerham earned a B.S. in Zoology from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. He will work out of his home office in Flushing, Michigan, and can be reached at (517) 316-5106 or Email Ben.
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 700 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.
