Monday, April 5, 2021

Quail Forever’s Andy Edwards Set to Boost Conservation Efforts for Bobwhite Quail

Conservation partnership development, marketing opportunities highlight new position

Pulaski, TN -- Quail Forever is excited to announce the promotion of Andy Edwards, the organization’s long-time field representative, to his new role of Quail Forever Program Manager. Seeking to bridge the gap between agencies, partners, members and chapters, Edwards will elevate Quail Forever’s habitat mission, brand recognition, and business scope to help solidify the organization as the nation’s premier conservation entity committed to quail habitat management efforts.

“Opportunities abound for quail populations from the longleaf pine woodlands of the Southeast to the rolling hills of West Texas,” stated Ron Leathers, Chief Conservation Officer for Quail Forever. “To that end, Andy Edwards is well-prepared to be the next champion for the firebird within our organization and has a vital role to play in nurturing meaningful partnerships and success stories moving forward. We’re excited to promote him as the first-ever Quail Forever Program Manager.”

Edwards will play an essential role in showcasing existing on-the-ground efforts of chapters and conservation partners. With nearly 100 biologists working in the bobwhite range currently, there are many successes to spotlight. Building on this great existing foundation, Edwards will work to identify new partners in the corporate and private sectors that can help elevate Quail Forever’s mission delivery on landscape-level projects.

Edwards grew up on a family farm in Middle Tennessee, lending a hand on his grandfather and uncle’s beef cattle and hay operation. He had a love for the outdoors at an early age, hunting small game and fishing the areas warm-water streams. Following his outdoor interests, he earned his B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science in 1999, and M.S. in Wildlife Science in 2002 from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Edwards began his career with “The Habitat Organization” in 2003, serving as regional biologist in Indiana and Illinois for Pheasants Forever. Shortly after the founding of Quail Forever in 2005, he was able to move back to his hometown and cover 8 Southeastern states as a regional representative for the new organization. He was heavily involved with the growth and expansion of the organization’s footprint throughout the Southeast. Edwards has helped volunteers start more than 50 local chapters of Quail Forever in the past 18 years and has shared responsibility for major partnership development efforts in recent years. His passion and excitement for Quail Forever’s mission has only grown with his outstanding career.

“This new role is a perfect fit for me,” said Edwards. “I get great joy from connecting people that have shared interest in quail conservation. I value making lasting connections with new partners, and I have made many friends throughout my years working for quail in the Southeast. At Quail Forever, we have a great model for success, and I want to be sure that everyone knows all that we are doing to help out the King of Gamebirds!”

In addition to his love for bobwhite quail hunting, Edwards spends his free time fishing small streams and rivers, pursuing small game, deer, turkeys, and waterfowl, and managing his family’s acreage for timber and wildlife. He will work from his home office in Pulaski, Tennessee, where he resides with his wife and two boys. For more information about partnering with Quail Forever, contact Andy Edwards at (931) 638-9478 / AEdwards@QuailForever.Org.

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 125,000 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 20 million acres nationwide. In fact, more than 200,000 of those acres are now permanently protected as public lands.

Media Contact

Jared Wiklund

(651) 209-4953