About Pheasants Forever Ramsey County - 909

A Local Minnesota Chapter

Welcome. We are Ramsey County Pheasants Forever ("RCPF"), 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. RCPF takes full advantage of this model using funds raised for projects locally as well as other areas in the State of Minnesota.

Join Our Chapter

Our Chapter Mission

This is where it all began! In 1982 in the community of White Bear Lake a small group of people came together in a unified effort to develop an organization dedicated to the preservation of wildlife habitat, specifically habitat necessary for the survival and expansion of the Ringneck Pheasant and other upland species. And thus was formed Pheasants Forver, a Habitat Organization.

The Ramsey County Chapter was officially formed on August 28th, 2012. It was formed with the commitment to mirror the vision and mission of the Pheasants Forver national organization, and to assist with the implementation and growth of not only the organizaton itself, but the passion and commitment to the preservation of wildlife habitat and all the beauty and pleasures it reflects. Even more importantly, to instill the passion of how important the preservation of our natural world is to our world itself.

Today, Ramsey County is still the home of the national offices of Pheasants Forever and Pheasants Forever.

It is the hope and desire of the Ramsey County Chapter of Pheasants Forever to encourage and assist many of it's residents to take part in wildlife conservation.

About Ramsey County Pheasants Forever

August 5, 1982 - Pheasants Forever incorporated.
February 1983 - "Rooster Tales," PF's first publication, urges the 500-member organization to push for passage of a Minnesota Pheasant Habitat Stamp.
April 15, 1983 - PF's first banquet draws 800 supporters in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to celebrate the passage of the Minnesota Pheasant Habitat Stamp bill and raise money for the fledgling organization. Famed outdoor writer Jimmy Robinson and Twin Cities' advertising magnate Robert Naegele, Sr. cut PF $1,000 checks, becoming the organization's first Life Members.
1983 – The first Pheasants Forever chapter forms in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. Like all chapters that would follow, the chapter operates under a unique grassroots system of fundraising and project development that allows members to see the direct result of their contributions. Pheasants Forever empowers chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent.
1984 - The Iowa Pioneer Chapter forms in north central Iowa, becoming the first chapter outside of Minnesota.
1985 - Pheasants Forever has 12 chapters and 1,000 members.
1985 - The federal Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, is established. Pheasants Forever was instrumental in the creation of CRP, a land set-aside program that pays landowners to keep their most environmentally sensitive lands out of agriculture production. CRP lands improve pheasant populations, but are also responsible for improvements in water quality, soil erosion prevention, and the creation of critical habitat for a variety of other wildlife species.
1986 - Pheasants Forever's headquarters move from Executive Director Jeff Finden's basement to a small building in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
1987 - Pheasants Forever's membership grows to over 25,000.
1990 - Pheasants Forever's members grow to over 50,000.
1996 - Pheasants Forever's Dave Nomsen, Vice President of Government Affairs, lends support of CRP in influencing the federal Farm Bill.
1999 - Pheasants Forever chapters complete over 25,000 wildlife habitat projects in year for first time.
2000 - Howard K. Vincent becomes PF's second CEO, succeeding Jeff Finden.
2003 - Pheasants Forever's first-ever National Pheasant Fest draws 12,500 attendees in Bloomington, Minnesota, to celebrate the organization's 20th Anniversary.
2003 – Pheasants Forever begins employing Farm Bill Biologists. The positions are designed to educate farmers and landowners about the benefits of conservation programs, as well as assist those farmers and landowners after programs have been implemented.
2003 - Pheasants Forever launches its Build a Wildlife Area program as another way to conserve and restore wildlife habitat and create public hunting and outdoor recreation opportunities.
2005 – Pheasant Fest is attended by 24,205 at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
2005 - Pheasants Forever launches a quail division called Pheasants Forever. Dedicated to the protection and enhancement of quail, pheasant and other upland wildlife through habitat improvement, public awareness, education and advocacy for sound land management policy, Pheasants Forever (QF) uses the same unique grassroots system as PF, empowering chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent.
2007 – Pheasant Fest is attended by 24,510 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
2008 - Pheasants Forever's projects benefit more than 5 million acres of wildlife habitat across North America.
2008 – Nearly 30,000 attendees turn out to celebrate Pheasants Forever's 25th Anniversary at National Pheasant Fest 2008 in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
2008 - Pheasants Forever helps establish a CRP practice designed specifically for wildlife. Designated Conservation Practice 38 but better know as the State Acres For wildlife Enhancement Program (SAFE), the practice allows states to cater CRP practices to species in greatest conservation need.
2009 – Pheasant Fest draws 20,255 to the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
2010 – Pheasant Fest draws 20,230 to the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
2011 – Pheasant Fest draws 21,743 to the Qwest Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
2012 – Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic goes to Kansas City for the first time
2012 – August 28th, in the White Bear Lake office of Pheasants Forever, the Ramsey County Pheasants Forever Chapter, number 0909, is formed.
2013 – Pheasants Forever’s 30th Anniversary is celebrated at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
2013 – Ramsey County Pheasants Forever has its 1st Annual Banquet April 20th in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the first Pheasants Forever banquet held April 15th, 1983 in Ramsey County.
Today in 2015 – Pheasants Forever has over 141,000 members and over 740 chapters in the U.S. and Canada.