Indiana NRCS, DNR, Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever Support Voluntary Conservation Programs for Producers

Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, and its partners are excited to announce the formation of Indiana’s Farm Bill Biologist Partnership with the hiring of four biologists to accelerate voluntary conservation program enrollment for Indiana producers. Working in joint capacity with Indiana’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and local chapters of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, the new biologists will assist landowners in outreach, planning, developing, and funding habitat improvements on private lands.
 
“Indiana NRCS is excited to partner with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever to support funding for these new wildlife biologists throughout the state,” stated Jane Hardisty, state conservationist for NRCS in Indiana. “We’re focusing their assistance to priority counties where farmers most need their expertise and can help us promote Farm Bill programs to get more conservation on the ground. We’re looking forward to seeing the increased wildlife habitat and other natural resource benefits that will come from their work.”
 
The Farm Bill Biologist Partnership has provided a valuable service to landowners throughout the country who are interested in voluntary conservation programs such as CRP, which includes the popular State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement practice. In fiscal year 2015, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Farm Bill biologists nationwide assisted 35,809 landowners to impact 1.4 million acres for wildlife - habitat that is supporting the nation’s rebounding upland bird population. Indiana’s newest hires hope to contribute to this number in the coming year with added capacity for conservation program delivery throughout the state. 
 
“Indiana farmers have always had a keen interest to improve habitat for priority species such as pheasants, northern bobwhite, and other wildlife on their farms,” explained Shannon Zezula, state resource conservationist for NRCS in Indiana. “Now with a renewed interest in pollinators and monarchs, the Farm Bill Biologist Partnership adds much-needed biologists on the landscape to provide quality technical assistance for Indiana landowners.”
 
Farm Bill Biologist Partnership Hires

Emily Jacob – Headquartered for Quail Forever at Indiana’s Vincennes Service Center, Jacob will be responsible for land management and conservation assistance throughout southwest Indiana. Jacob received her B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Wildlife Conservation from Ball State University. Prior to joining Pheasants Forever, Jacob gained years of conservation experience working as a fisheries aide, biologist aide, and a Cerulean warbler field technician for Ball State University. Jacob began her new position with Quail Forever in Indiana on Feb. 1, and may be contacted at ejacob@pheasantsforever.org or (812) 827-1087.
 

Robert Suseland – Stationed for Pheasants Forever at Indiana’s Lafayette Service Center, Suseland will be responsible for land management and conservation assistance throughout the northwest area of the state. Suseland received his B.S. in Wildlife from Purdue University. Growing up on a small farm, Suseland was able to gain firsthand knowledge of Indiana agriculture before joining Potato Creek State Park as an interpretive naturalist. Suseland began his new position with Pheasants Forever in Indiana on Feb. 1, and may be contacted at rsuseland@pheasantsforever.org or (574) 952-0169.
 

Zachary Voyles – Headquartered for Quail Forever at Indiana’s North Vernon Service Center, Voyles will be responsible for land management and conservation assistance throughout the southeast area of the state. Voyles received his B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana – Missoula before achieving his M.S. in Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Prior to joining Pheasants Forever, Voyles gained valuable conservation experience working for Yellowstone National Park, Voyageurs National Park, USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Hoosier National Forest, and more. Additionally, Voyles gained firsthand knowledge of Indiana agriculture by working on a family farm near the town of Martinsville. Voyles began his new position with Quail Forever in Indiana on Feb. 1, and may be contacted at zvoyles@pheasantsforever.org or (812) 346-3411 (ext. 150).
 

Ryan Owen – Working for Pheasants Forever at Indiana’s Fort Wayne Service Center, Owen will be responsible for land management and conservation assistance throughout the northeast area of the state. Owen received his B.S. in Wildlife Management from Purdue University before acquiring a position with Asplundh Tree Expert Company as a utility arborist. Owen began his new position with Pheasants Forever in Indiana on Feb. 1, and may be contacted at rowen@pheasantsforever.org or (260) 484-5848 (ext. 124).

About Pheasants Forever

Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 145,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent; the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $634 million on 502,000 habitat projects benefiting 14.1 million acres nationwide.

Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953
jwiklund@pheasantsforever.org