logo for 2008 Pheasant Fest--25th Anniversary

2008 FOURTH ANNUAL

NATIONAL PHEASANT FEST

PHOTO GALLERY

JANUARY 18-20, 2008
SAINT PAUL RIVERCENTRE
ST. PAUL, MN

After enjoying the previous weekend (January 11-13) in Des Moines, IA, at the 2008 Iowa State PF Convention, Black Hawk County Chapter President Ed Griffith and his wife Jane attended the 2008 4th Annual Pheasant Fest in St. Paul, MN. Joining them were Earl and Judy Van Sickle and Jim and Dawne Bosier. Earl is the long-time Black Hawk County Chapter Treasurer, while Jim is the relatively new Black Hawk County Chapter Banquet Chair. Although the St. Paul temperatures were more than 20 degrees below zero all weekend, these three hardy Iowa couples really enjoyed their time at the Pheasant Fest.

Vowing to do better this weekend with her photography skills, Jane took the following photos at the Pheasant Fest:

Click on each photo below to enlarge its size and to read its caption. The often-distorted thumbnail photos will surprise you during the slideshow.

Discover more about Pheasants Forever by clicking this link:

NATIONAL PHEASANTS FOREVER


Please wait for page (and all images) to finish loading, thank you.

U.S. Department of Agriculture sign at its press conference on January 19 at the Pheasant Fest. A view of the room before the press conference began on January 19. Another view of the room prior to the press conference. Members of the media were everywhere. Dave Nomsen, Pheasants Forever's VP of Governmental Affairs, introducing Chuck Conner at the USDA press conference. USDA Secretary Chuck Conner, Washington, D.C., announced 45 conservation projects in 18 states to benefit endangered and threatened wildlife. Secretary Chuck Conner announced that the USDA had approved conservation projects on more than a quarter-million acres under the SAFE program. SAFE [State Acres For wildlife Enhancement] is a practice announced in 2007 under the Conservation Reserve Program [CRP]. Conner's announcement approved 45 new SAFE projects. PF Vice-President of Governmental Affairs, Dave Nomsen, thanked USDA Secretary Chuck Conner for the unveiling of these first wildlife plans under the SAFE program. These plans will go hand-in-hand with those of PF to create and restore habitat. The moderator of the PF Farm Bill Forum on January 19 prepares for his role immediately following the USDA press conference. The Farm Bill Forum began with Dave Nomsen and Chuck Conner taking the stage. Dave Nomsen and Chuck Conner wait for the rest of the Farm Bill Forum panel to take the stage. Three DNR officers line one wall of the seminar room where the Farm Bill Forum was held. U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) join the other panelists. One of USDA Secretary Chuck Conner's Secret Service agents keeps an eye on the room as the Farm Bill Forum continues. Dave Nomsen smiled as he was given another opportunity to speak about the common goals of PF and the Federal Farm Bill proponents. Another view of the double seminar room in which the Farm Bill Forum was held. A standing-room crowd listened intently as the panel members took turns speaking. Panelists Dave Nomsen, PF's Vice President of Government Affairs, and U.S. Ag Secretary Chuck Conner wait for their turns to speak. U.S. Secretary Chuck Conner and Iowa Senator Tom Harkin shared thoughts about the importance of the passage of the Federal Farm Bill. U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) exchanged ideas on the necessity of the Federal Farm Bill passing. Their differing viewpoints were few. Note their smiles! Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator (D-MN) and Agriculture Committee Member, attended the Farm Bill Forum with her husband. A view of all four panelists at the PF Farm Bill Forum (left to right) -- Dave Nomsen, Chuck Conner, Tom Harkin, and Collin Peterson. A Secret Service agent moves closer to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner as the Farm Bill Forum draws to a close. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) answers some questions from the press after the Farm Bill Forum. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) chat following the Farm Bill Forum. Both are members of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee. Senators Klobuchar and Harkin leave the Farm Bill Forum together on January 19 at the National Pheasant Fest. A sign announcing the Farm Bill Forum was prominently placed in the large seminar room just before the Forum began. Howard Vincent, President and CEO of Pheasants Forever, kindly posed for this photo on January 19 during the National Pheasant Fest. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) spoke at the January 19 noon luncheon at the Pheasant Fest. She is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Senator Amy Klobuchar as viewed over one of the two huge television monitors in the RiverCentre Ballroom as she spoke during the January 19 luncheon. During the January 19 banquet and live auction, Black Hawk County IA Chapter's three couples--from the left, Earl [Treasurer] and Judy Van Sickle, Dawne and Jim [Banquet Chair] Bosier, and Jane Griffith. Ed Griffith took the photo. Chapter President Ed Griffith acted as photographer one more time, as the other five Black Hawk County Chapter Pheasant Fest attendees kept chatting away. Ron Schara, the host of Pheasants Forever Television and Minnesota Bound, as well as the owner of the loveable black lab Raven, entertained the crowd on two different nights. Hundreds of folks at the National Pheasant Fest purchased special black battery-operated PF hats that had purple lights continuously circling the logo. During the closing few moments of the January 19 evening banquet, the Ballroom lights were dimmed, and the special lighted PF hats were activated. Really neat to see! With the house lights down, an impressive video played to an appreciative audience. This owl, a symbol of wisdom, looked out at the room full of Pheasants Forever members and guests. The ringneck pheasant is the reason for this 4th Annual National Pheasant Fest. Twenty-five years of volunteerism by over 600 chapters across the United States have kept PF strong and growing. Members of Pheasants Forever appreciate the opportunity to own guns and to hunt. Love of country surpasses even the love of pheasant hunting to the dedicated members of Pheasants Forever. PF will continue to increase its efforts to preserve and create pheasant habitat. Another twenty-five years is ahead! CONGRATULATIONS, PHEASANTS FOREVER, ON YOUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY! Jane Griffith, Black Hawk County Chapter's secretary and webmaster, saw Rudy Ringneck up close and personal on January 20th and couldn't resist having her picture taken with him.