National Pheasant Fest
National Pheasant Fest 2009: February 6-8, 2009 at Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin
National Pheasant Fest 2009 will be Pheasants Forever's fifth such event. Nearly 30,000 people attended the fourth-ever Fest this past January in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the event has grown into the nation's largest event for upland hunters, farmers, sport dog owners and wildlife habitat conservationists. National Pheasant Fest is a unique family event that offers a wide variety of exhibits, seminars, dog training events and youth attractions. "National Pheasant Fest is a must-see event for outdoor sportsmen and women, and Wisconsin can boast having hundreds of thousands of them," Vincent said, "It's the perfect match."
Wisconsin is home to 30 PF chapters and over 7,000 dedicated PF members. Since the organization's inception in 1982, those chapter members have completed over 15,800 habitat projects which are benefitting over 113,000 acres for Wisconsin wildlife. "Pheasants Forever has a strong presence in the state of Wisconsin, which is why we're extremely excited to bring our signature event here," Vincent said.
Matt Frank, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, says the 2009 Fest will be a "tremendous opportunity" for Wisconsin's outdoor sporting enthusiasts of all ages, as well as for the Badger State and its capital city. "Wisconsin has a long and storied tradition of pheasant hunting. The success of our pheasant program would not be possible without the cooperation and collaboration of Pheasants Forever," Frank said. "We at the DNR stand ready to assist Pheasants Forever and the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau to make sure the 2009 event is a success on every front."
The City of Madison, which rests in Dane County, is looking forward to hosting the big event. "Dane County citizens love our beautiful woods and fields and work hard to protect our great outdoors," said Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, "It's such an honor to have Pheasants Forever, a group that devotes so much effort and attention nationally to these values, coming to Dane County."
National Pheasant Fest 2009 will combine a national consumer show, habitat seminar series, and family event complete with puppies, tractors, shotguns, and art. Special attractions will include the Bird Dog Bonanza and Bird Dog Alley, the Artisan's Fair, Habitat Hall, the Landowner Habitat Help Room, and the Youth Village. Previous Fests have been held in Bloomington, Minnesota (2003); Omaha, Nebraska (2005); Des Moines, Iowa (2007); and Saint Paul, Minnesota (2008). The event is open to the public, and you do not need to be a PF member to attend.
More information and updates on National Pheasant Fest 2009 will be available when details become available.
