Anisfield, Mehta Named to Pheasants Forever’s National Board of Directors
Pheasants Forever 10.17.12
Fresh perspectives added to PF’s governing body
Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever announce Nancy Anisfield of Hinesburg, Vermont, and Shefali Mehta of Saint Paul, Minnesota, have been elected to the nonprofit organization’s National Board of Directors. Anisfield owns and operates Anisfield Hunting Dog Photography, and Mehta is a research and development strategy manager at the global agricultural firm Syngenta. The 17-member board meets three times per year and oversees the operations of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, the nation’s largest upland conservation organization.
An outdoor photographer/writer and noted sporting dog enthusiast, Anisfield’s work has appeared in many national wingshooting and conservation publications and has been used by a variety of hunting industry clients. Formerly a senior editor for Upland Almanac Magazine and a college instructor, Anisfield is a Patron member of Pheasants Forever and longtime conservation supporter. “I look forward to doing more to give back to the resource of which I partake with passion,” Anisfield says of her support for Pheasants Forever’s wildlife habitat conservation mission. She also cares deeply about getting more women involved in the hunting and conservation world and believes that will be key to expanding Pheasants Forever’s membership.
In her previous position with the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, Mehta acted as a pro bono consultant to Pheasants Forever. She has a personal passion for the protection of the environment and conservation, evidenced by her previous leadership experiences researching ways to reduce harm from invasive species to U.S. forests and researching conservation policies for lions in Tanzania. “Pheasants Forever’s mission is a cause I believe in,” Mehta said, “I am committed to the organization’s continued growth.”
“Nancy and Shefali’s dedication to Pheasants Forever’s mission and members is proven by their lifelong commitment to conservation,” says Bruce Hertzke, past Chair of Pheasants Forever’s National Board of Directors, “With Nancy’s love of bird dogs and upland hunting, and Shefali’s interest in the politics and policy of conservation, they represent two parts of the fastest growing demographic of outdoors people – women. Their talents and skill sets will lend themselves well to our mission, and I couldn’t be more pleased with what our organization will accomplish in light of their addition.”
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.
