PF, QF Add New Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist in Texas

Muleshoe, Texas - Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) announce the hiring of Jordan Menge as the organization's newest Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist. Menge's primary responsibility will be to work with area landowners, ranchers and farmers to implement wildlife habitat conservation measures aimed at increasing lesser prairie-chicken, pheasant, quail and other wildlife populations. Located at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Service Center in Muleshoe, Texas, Menge will cover Randall, Deaf Smith, Bailey, Lamb, Swisher, Parmer and Castro counties.

This particular Pheasants Forever and USDA partnership was built out of the Lesser Prairie Chicken Initiative (LPCI), which is a key component of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Strategic Watershed Action Team's (SWAT) effort. In Texas, the LPCI SWAT is helping individual agricultural producers plan and implement the conservation practices needed to address high priority natural resource concerns. Additional support for this partnership position is provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Playa Lakes Joint Venture and other conservation organizations.

Menge was born and raised in Fruita, Colo., and received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Wyoming in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and Management. He is a passionate outdoorsman who loves to both hunt and fish. "It was my interest in outdoor activities during my youth that led me to pursue an education focusing on land and wildlife," remarked Menge. Prior to joining Pheasants Forever, Menge assisted Resource Logics, LLC's efforts in managing habitat for sage grouse in northwest Colorado. This previous focus on sage grouse will help Menge as he starts working on the LPCI.

"I have always been impressed with the conservation work Pheasants Forever accomplishes, and I wanted to be a part of that positive impact," continued Menge, "My two main goals are to help make a difference by working one-on-one with area landowners, ranchers and farmers while also implementing Pheasants Forever's mission of conservation through habitat improvements and education."

Pheasants Forever's Farm Bill Wildlife Biologists work to provide technical assistance to farmers and ranchers-through one-on-one consulting-regarding the benefits of conservation programs (such as the Conservation Reserve Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program). By working with landowners to develop and implement individual wildlife management plans, these biologists represent Pheasants Forever's on-the-ground efforts in ensuring landowners are aware of conservation program options. Pheasants Forever Inc. and Quail Forever initiated the Farm Bill Biologist Program in 2003 with 4 positions and it has grown to more than 100 biologists throughout the country.

Menge starts on July 9 and will be able to be reached at the Muleshoe USDA Service Center at (806) 272-4538 or Email Jordan. For more information about the Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist program, please contact Steve Riley, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist Coordinator, at (402) 433-5078 or Email Steve.

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.

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Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.

Contact:
Rehan Nana (651) 209-4973