Jody Pagan was introduced to the outdoors like many hunters — his father. Deer and duck hunting was life, and so was fishing. Pagan grew up on a small farm, was raised in the outdoors, and these things shaped his entire life trajectory.

In time, he got into turkey hunting, too. Unfortunately, there were no turkeys in his county. But a friend’s father and uncle were conservation officers, and through them, Pagan witnessed wild turkey restocking efforts.

After that exposure, Pagan started seeking out turkey hunting opportunities. It quickly became a leading passion in his life. Fast forward, and today, he’s even more passionate about conserving these animals than hunting them.

For those who don’t know him, he’s a salt-of-the-earth kind of guy. By trade, he’s the owner of Ecosystems Protection Service LLC. Additionally, he’s the commissioner on the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and chairman of research at the Five Oaks Agricultural Research and Education Center at Stuttgart. He also has a background in wildlife biology.

“I'm a duck biologist by trade,” he said. “But I was planting deer plots in the 80s when no one knew what they were doing, but we tried anyway. It was just part of life where I grew up.

“Now, I get paid to take care of land,” Pagan continued. “I restore land and manage land for all creatures. I just like fixing problems with habitat, because that's kind of my deal.”

Without question, he is a torchbearer for conservation. Just recently, Pagan was elected a 2025 Champion of Conservation by Garden & Gun. Even more recently, he’s an incoming member of the TFT Board of Directors.

“I tell everyone, with management, you get out what you put in,” Pagan said. “If you want turkeys, go to work on the land and take care of them. Give them what they need. Then, you'll be the beneficiary.

“I want my grandchildren to enjoy the same opportunities that I've had of harvesting deer, ducks, and turkeys,” Pagan continued. “There's no single-species management. I've always been holistic. If I'm restoring a river bottom, it's going to be good for the deer, ducks, and turkeys. That's the approach that we've taken with my company. I take care of properties, so they have big deer, a lot of ducks, and more turkeys.”

Of course, Pagan is excited to join the TFT Board. He is confident that he’ll bring plenty of expertise and dedication to this established group of professionals.

Furthermore, Pagan hopes to help establish important connections between TFT and other conservation giants across the country. He believes that, together, TFT and other entities can achieve a lot of great things. It’s all about education, research, fundraising for turkeys, and more.

“We need to give landowners ammunition on how to manage better,” Pagan said. “We must push research to understand what's going on with the wild turkeys across the Southeast and across the country.”

Pagan says the cornerstones of wild turkey conservation includes habitat management, predator control, and population management through appropriately adjusted harvest rates. Of course, conducting TSI, controlled burns, and more, can positively impact wild turkey populations.

“TFT is promoting and preaching these cornerstones, and it’s making a big impact — rapidly,” Pagan said. “There are a lot of open ears. You have to give them the right messaging and the right recipe.”

Overall, it's about solving problems, conserving the wild turkey, and pushing the mission forward. Pagan is confident TFT is already heading in the right direction, and he wants to help build momentum.

“I never participate in anything that I don't believe is going to be successful,” Pagan concluded. “And nothing moves a needle more than passion.”