Now These Words from Our Sponsors

Corporate Partners are an important part of Pheasants Forever's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Successes

In recent weeks, my role at Pheasants Forever has been augmented with some new corporate sponsorship responsibilities. I recognize most everyone feels they've been over-saturated with commercial messages and marketing ploys. I get it.

However, I don't believe some of conservation's biggest corporate supporters are thanked often enough. So, at the risk of coming off as a cheesy advertisement, please indulge me to thank a few of the corporations that put their dollars behind Pheasants Forever, wildlife habitat conservation, and the future of hunting as our biggest sponsors.

Browning: I certainly think classy shotguns when I hear the word "Browning," but I also think immediately about the best upland hunting clothing on the market. And every time a Browning vest, jacket, or chaps featuring the Pheasants Forever logo is sold, a royalty is paid toward PF's habitat mission.

Cabela's: The Nebraska-based outdoor retail giant recently signed on as the title sponsor of National Pheasant Fest 2011 in Omaha. In addition to their support of our national efforts, Cabela's is a long-time contributor to local chapter banquets and youth events.

Federal Premium Ammunition: Located only 20 miles from Pheasants Forever's National Headquarters, it is fair to say Federal employees are some of our closest friends in the industry. So far, that friendship remains intact despite a recent Big Buck Hunter Tournament defeat at the hands of Federal's finest shooters. We are extremely excited for the first hunting season with Federal's new pheasant load, Prairie Storm, which should be hitting retail shelves any day.

Gander Mountain: For the last 5 years, Gander Mountain's support of Pheasants Forever's direct mail efforts has produced more members than any other single initiative. Now that's a powerful statement from our Saint Paul neighbors! Make sure you check out their new Upland Hunting checklist.

Native Performance Dog Food: When I think about Native, I think about Steve Ries. Steve has been our main contact at Native since we formed a partnership with the Kent Feeds branded dog food for canine athletes. You could say Steve is a believer in Pheasants Forever, but that would be understating his commitment to "The Habitat Organization." You see, since Native's sponsorship of Pheasants Forever, Steve has signed on as President of his local Iowa chapter, he serves on PF's Iowa Grassroots Conservation Campaign task force, and he organizes almost all of the bird dog activities for National Pheasant Fest. Oh, and he also breeds German shorthaired pointers through his kennel Top Gun Kennels (also a PF advertiser), where I happened to have purchased my pup Trammell.

Outdoor Channel: The undisputed leader in hunting & fishing television programming, Outdoor Channel pursued all the conservation television shows three years ago and successfully brought Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, and a whole slew of other groups to their network. Since that time, they have reasserted their commitment to conservation and the future of our outdoors heritage with the creation of the Outdoor Channel Corps. The Outdoor Channel Corps initiative is the network's effort of fostering a new wave of volunteerism for the outdoors. Now that's commitment to the cause!

Pizza Ranch: Some corporations shy away from hunting and shotguns. That's a shame. Since 2008, the restaurant serving the best pizza in the pheasant range has been celebrating one of the best moments in a person's life - their first pheasant.

Scag Power Equipment: This Wisconsin-based maker of big time lawnmowers is so committed to the long term success of Pheasants Forever's conservation efforts that they are sponsoring our 2010 Life Membership campaign and sweepstakes. In fact, they are giving away a $7,000+ lawnmower to one lucky entrant.

SportDOG: The folks at SportDOG electronic dog training systems are so committed to conservation they've even created the SportDOG brand Conservation Fund to help support the efforts of Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Ruffed Grouse Society, Delta Waterfowl and Ducks Unlimited.

So there you have it; a few testimonials in support of the companies that put their dollars behind Pheasants Forever. Next time you are in the market for a lawnmower, a pizza, shotgun shells, or dog food, please support the folks that will take a percentage of what you buy and give it back to habitat. Thanks.