Educator's talents will help encourage youth outdoor involvement

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever (PF/QF) has announced that Devon Walter, of Lincoln, has been named the organization's new regional representative for western Kansas. Walter's primary duties with PF/QF will include starting and servicing chapters and members in the region to enhance the organization's wildlife habitat mission.

Walter will help chapters raise and spend funds on wildlife habitat and conservation education. He will also work with local, state, and federal natural resource agencies on behalf of PF/QF chapters in western Kansas.

"You don't have to be around Devon for very long to realize that his passion for wildlife and the mission of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever runs very deep," said Rick Young, PF/QF vice-president of field operations. "That passion will help engage more people in an area where there is a great deal of potential for habitat projects, particularly those that benefit quail."

Walter joins PF/QF after serving as the academic dean at St. John's Military School in Salina. In addition to his career in education and his leadership experience in coaching and fundraising, Walter's diverse background includes involvement in his family's farm near Lincoln. He also recently worked for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks assisting with fish and wildlife habitat work.

"I have been in education for 19 years, but I left because I wanted to spend more time outdoors," Walter explained. "I have been a volunteer and member of our local Post Rock Ringnecks Chapter of Pheasants Forever. I cannot say enough about Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's youth involvement in our own community, and that has spurred my enthusiasm to play a bigger part in this organization. Coming from an education field, I see a need for more youth interaction with the outdoors and what it has to offer."

Walter is a Fort Hays State University graduate and earned a master of arts degree from Wichita State University. Walter can be reached at 785-524-4033 or by email at dwalter@pheasantsforever.org.

In 2008, Kansas' 49 PF/QF chapters and 6,200 PF/QF members spent more than $293,000 for 270 wildlife habitat projects enhancing 4,600 acres. Historically, Kansas PF/QF chapters have spent more than $2.8 million to complete more than 5,300 projects, benefiting nearly 100,000 acres for pheasants, quail and other wildlife. For additional information, visit the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever websites.

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