Personal pathways to conservation from the PF & QF team
By Kaelie Peña, PF & QF Nevada state coordinator
Editor's note: Here at PF & QF we have a wide array of talented individuals all across the country working hard every day to deliver our mission, each with unique backgrounds and skillsets. In our new blog series, “Why Conservation,” we feature some of the incredible employees that make up the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever family. Each of these blogs will highlight background information on the employee, the important work they do for the organization and answer the important question of — Why Conservation?
I grew up in rural northeastern California, where the Sierra Nevada ends and the Cascade’s begin.
This land, between the pine trees and the sagebrush desert, has been my family’s home for generations. We spent countless hours outside hunting, fishing and just recreating in general. I’ve always felt connected and at home when immersed in these natural settings, but it wasn’t until late high school/junior college that I began to understand what conservation truly was.
If you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up when I was in high school, I would’ve likely said “firefighter.” Initially I did follow that path, but eventually realized I was missing something. I started looking into other careers, going back and forth between agriculture and natural resources. I had a tough time deciding exactly what to do, until eventually stumbling upon rangeland management.
After researching exactly WHAT rangeland management was, I decided to pursue my undergraduate degree in rangeland resource science at Humboldt State University. I already had a great love for the outdoors and natural resources, so learning the science behind these resources helped me grow a true appreciation for them. While in school, I became involved with the Society for Range Management (SRM), which helped me get my first real job in natural resources as a pathways intern with the U.S. Forest Service.

As a range technician intern, I spent two summers on the Bridgeport Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, managing and monitoring livestock grazing allotments in some of the most beautiful country I’ve ever seen. Once I graduated, I converted to a permanent rangeland management specialist position and spent the next three years on the Bridgeport Ranger District. My time with the Forest Service really helped me understand how special and unique our public lands system is, and I learned firsthand the immense responsibility of folks who work for our land management agencies.
My job with Pheasants Forever accomplishes the same goals as the Forest Service — protect and maintain our natural resources for current and future generations. I started my position as the Nevada State Coordinator in February 2024, and was pretty hesitant to make such a big change. I’m settling in now though, and am really enjoying both the people and the work. I work behind the scenes, coordinating across federal and state agencies, working with local conservation groups and finding funding and people to do the work on the ground.
Growing up, my dad always told me to find a job that involved something I was passionate about, and going into natural resources conservation accomplished just that. Every day I get to work with people who have the same passion I do on projects that are important and meaningful to places that I love. I’m truly thankful to have found my way into this career and for all the people along the way who have guided me down my path.