Scott Rall celebrated for nearly four decades of hard work
This year, for the first time, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever recognized a national “Volunteer of the Year.”
The award celebrates the very best the organization has to offer — the members and volunteers who optimize the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever mission, who seek to protect and grow our wildlife habitat, and who help ensure our heritage continues for generations to come.
Out of over 140,000 members and volunteers, Pheasants Forever chose four finalists. While each has made a tremendous impact on not only habitat conservation, but all of the founding principles of the Pheasants Forever mission — one name rose to the top.
During National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic on March 1-3, Nobles County standout Scott Rall became the first ever Pheasants Forever National Volunteer of the Year.
Rall is in his 39th year with the Habitat Organization. His initiation into the uplands began with Pheasants Forever and has grown into a lifelong passion. A voracious pheasant hunter, Rall also generously lends his time and expertise to others looking to get involved. Over the years, Rall has helped spearhead over 45 public land acquisitions across Minnesota, adding thousands of acres for hunters new and old to roam.
“Scott’s devotion to Pheasants Forever and conservation, spanning nearly four decades, underscores his unwavering commitment to leaving a positive legacy,” said Tom Fuller, Pheasants Forever’s vice president of chapter and volunteer services. “Regardless of accolades, Scott remains steadfast in his mission to contribute to a better world, epitomizing the spirit of volunteerism and environmental stewardship. There is no one more deserving of our first Volunteer of the Year award.”
Rall is bold and outspoken. When he walks in a room you know he’s there — and what better person to have speaking on behalf of conservation. His life seems inundated by the uplands, from the way he dresses to the wall packed with habitat awards at his office. The weekend of Pheasant Fest was filled with handshakes and congratulations, but rather than seeing this award as the capstone of four decades of hard work, Rall talked about the future — what he wants his chapter to accomplish in the years to come and how to make an even bigger impact.
And just to double down on his forward-thinking mentality, Rall capped off the weekend by proposing to his longtime girlfriend Joan Holles.
“Pheasants Forever has truly been at my core for going on 40 years. Most of my best friends are people I’ve connected with through this organization,” Rall said. “My dad, who passed away a few weeks ago, had a saying — “good, honest effort is always rewarded.” Thirty-nine years of good, honest effort has made me the volunteer of the year, but it’s actually lit an even bigger fire under me to do more. I want to find the next thing I can do to be even more impactful and seek out opportunities to increase the reach of our success.”