A former journalist combines his lifelong passion with a new career
By Dave Schwarz, Minnesota outreach 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?
It’s hard to say whether I chose conservation or if conservation chose me.
I was one of those kids who seemed to know almost immediately what they wanted to do, my career path mostly settled in my junior year of high school. I remember standing in the school’s photo lab, watching in fascination under dim red lights as chemicals swirled in a tray, slowly revealing the invisible image on the print paper. I was hooked on photography.
I took every assignment the school newspaper and yearbook would give me. In college I found that photojournalism matched me best and pursued that career with purpose. I worked at weekly and daily newspapers as a photographer, managing editor and for 20 years as photo editor of a regional daily newspaper in Minnesota.
I don’t regret a minute of my time in the news business, even the difficult parts. I loved that I learned something new every day, and the job allowed me to go places and experience things that I never would have otherwise.
But over the years something changed. The negative aspects of the job were increasing while satisfaction dwindled with each passing year. When the company announced buyout offers I knew it was time and took the leap.
And so at 52 I found myself searching for a second career. I had voluntarily left a profession that was my focus for my entire adult life. I knew I needed a change but I had no idea what that might be. It was both exhilarating and terrifying.
Thinking about the next step, two goals became clear. I wanted to do something I cared about, and I wanted to do something that was positive.
I had no idea then that a career in the media would translate perfectly into a new role in conservation and would meet those two goals completely. Many of my best days have been those spent in the uplands following a bird dog around. This opportunity to mix my passion with my profession has been a blessing.
As outreach coordinator my main job is to amplify our mission by making the public aware of what we do. All those years on the gathering side of communications perfectly positioned me to tell our story and increase our impact.
The point of it all goes directly to our habitat mission. The more that people know about the impact our amazing volunteers, staff and supporters are having on the landscape, the more that support will increase and the more good work we can do.
I’m humbled by the dedication and professionalism of our staff here in Minnesota and I’m honored to be tasked with telling their amazing story. It took a longer journey than most, but I’m forever grateful that conservation found me.
Dave Schwarz is the Pheasants Forever Minnesota outreach coordinator, he can be reached at dschwarz@pheasantsforever.org.