Eran Sandquist Promoted to Minnesota State Coordinator
Pheasants Forever 09.03.14
Pheasants Forever has promoted Eran Sandquist to the position of Minnesota State Coordinator. In this role, Sandquist will lead the organization’s partnerships in the state; including relationships with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Fund (created by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment). He’ll also be the organization’s point person for all Minnesota legislative activities.
Sandquist has spent the last twelve years with Pheasants Forever. He was hired in 2002 as a habitat specialist. In that role, he planted nesting cover, restored prairies and carried a drip torch to perform prescribed burns to improve habitat on both public and private lands. In 2003, Eran successfully transitioned to the organization’s regional representative for northern and western Minnesota guiding Pheasants Forever chapters on raising and spending funds on the organization’s habitat mission.
Sandquist is also an expert at helping the state accomplish its prairie, wetland and wildlife goals, particularly through land acquisitions. Since the passage of the Legacy Amendment by voters in 2008, Pheasants Forever has participated in 101 different Legacy projects representing more than 15,380 acres of improved habitat and public access for Minnesotans.
“Eran Sandquist brings a unique skillset to our state coordinator post having spent part of his career planting habitat atop a tractor and the other portion creating habitat through partnership building and fundraising,” explained Tom Fuller, Pheasants Forever’s north region director. “He’s an absolute perfect fit for the Minnesota State Coordinator role and I’m excited to see his talents make us even more effective in light of the state’s rapidly changing landscape.”
“The passion and commitment of our employees, volunteers and partners in Minnesota is second to none,” added Sandquist. “I look forward to working with our team to turn that energy in wildlife habitat and help foster the next generation of conservationists.”
Sandquist is a lifelong Minnesota resident and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from St. Cloud State University. Today, Sandquist calls South Haven, Minnesota home along with his wife, Melissa, two daughters and three dogs.
Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever in Minnesota
There are 75 Pheasants Forever and two Quail Forever chapters located in Minnesota, accounting for 25,000 members statewide. All told, the organization has spent more than $67 million to complete 26,000 habitat projects in the state since the organization was founded in Saint Paul in 1982. Those projects have improved more than 250,000 acres for wildlife in Minnesota, including 40,000 acres now permanently protected and open to public hunting through land acquisitions.
Contact:
Bob St. Pierre (651) 209-4931
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.
