About Pheasants Forever Northeast IN - 182
A Local Indiana Chapter
Welcome. We are Northeast Indiana Chapter 182 of Pheasants Forever, a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasants and other upland bird populations in North America.
Pheasants Forever is the only national organization with a model of chapters keeping 100% of the funds they raise. While belonging to a larger national organization that has a voice on federal and state conservation policies, chapters are tasked with finding projects for their funds. Chapter 182 takes full advantage of this model using funds raised for projects in our 4 county (Allen, Dekalb, Noble, and Steuben) membership area.
Organization History
Pheasants Forever was co-founded in 1982 by co-workers at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch, outdoor editor Dennis Anderson and national advertising director Jeff Finden. Both recognized a need for habitat restoration and preservation to ensure the future of pheasants and other wildlife.
PF's first publication entitled "Rooster Tales," published in February 1983. This became the forerunner of today's Pheasants Forever Journal of Upland Conservation. The fledgling PF held its first banquet on April 15, 1983, drawing 800 people at the inaugural banquet. In January 2007, PF's third-ever National Pheasant Fest in Des Moines, Iowa, became the largest event in PF history, drawing over 24,500 attendees over a three-day span.
Nearly 30 years after its inception, Pheasants Forever has become a grassroots, nationwide upland conservation movement - a national conservation powerhouse. The organization has grown to 110,000 members with over 600 chapters across the U.S. and Canada. Nationwide, Pheasants Forever has spent $260 million on program expenditures, which have helped fund 347,000 habitat projects affecting 4.4 million acres across North America. Along the way, PF has continued to employ the same unique organizational model of empowering local chapters to determine how 100 percent of their locally-raised conservation funds are spent. This local control allows chapters to see the fruits of their chapter efforts in their own communities.
PF Mission
Pheasants Forever's unique system empowers county chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100% of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent. PF, and sister quail division, are the only national conservation organizations that operate through this truly grassroots structure. As a result, grassroots chapter volunteers are able to see the fruits of their efforts locally, while belonging to a larger national organization with a voice on federal and state conservation policy.
This is a unique distinction. Last year alone, those chapter volunteers completed over 20,000 habitat projects. Similarly, Pheasants Forever has always recognized the impact federal Farm Bill policy has on wildlife habitat. Consequently, PF has played an active role in Farm Bill policy development and implementation, which includes the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CRP is this country's single most effective conservation program benefiting soil, water, and wildlife. Pheasants Forever has more than 110,000 members in over 600 local chapters across the United States and Canada. The national headquarters is located in St. Paul, Minnesota where the organization was founded.
The mission of Northeast Indiana Chapter 182 is to conserve and to enhance pheasant and other wildlife populations through habitat restoration, improvements in land, water, wildlife and water management practices and public awareness and education.
Our Local Habitat Projects
We actively partner with other chapters and local, state and federal government natural resource organizations on a variety of habitat projects.
- Habitat field days are conducted when opportunities arise.
- We involve young people through activities such as youth hunt, habitat projects, and various educational activities.
- We participate inHabitat projects and efforts to restore and preserve public lands.
- We contribute to funding purchasing and restoration of local land throughout our community.
Our Fundraising
- Our annual fundraising banquet, which is attended by nearly 300 people, generates thousands of dollars and 100% of the money raised is invested in our 4 county (Allen ,Noble, DeKalb and Steuben) membership area. The banquet is held the last Saturday in February each year.
