Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies honors Wallace Weber with 2009 annual Award for Exemplary Commitment to Conservation Stewardship
DORRANCE — The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies — the organization that represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies — honored 12 individuals and two entities for outstanding commitment to conservation stewardship at the organization's Annual Awards Ceremony Sept. 15 in Austin, Texas. Among the recipients was Dorrance native Wallace Weber, who was given the National Private Lands Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Award, which honors an individual- or family-run farm, ranch, or forest operation that has incorporated proactive conservation and environmental protection measures.

A retired U.S. Army colonel with 31 years of service, Weber is the third generation to run his family’s 1,783-acre farm in Russell County. A lifelong sportsman and conservationist, Weber assembled a conservation management team with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to advise and assist him in the development of conservation practices. He is currently implementing the plan with his sister, Cheryl, and permanently dedicating the farm as a demonstration area for farming and wildlife to advance agronomy and conservation-minded rangeland management practices and as a field laboratory to test new conservation ideas. He is also promoting the shooting sports, upland hunting, and proper hunting ethics.

To accomplish his vision, Weber is donating portions of the property to Pheasant’s Forever over the next five years and has established a charitable remainder trust for management expenses upon his passing. In its entirety, the donation is expected to be valued at more than $1 million dollars. When completed, it will be the largest land donation in Pheasants Forever's history.

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies promotes sound management and conservation, and advocates the importance of fish and wildlife issues. The organization is the collective voice of North America’s fish and wildlife agencies at every level of government.
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