PODCAST EP. 99: Introducing Chief Conservation Officer Ron Leathers

Host Bob St. Pierre is joined by Ron Leathers who was recently named Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s first-ever Chief Conservation Officer. In the new role, the organization’s conservation delivery functions will align under Leather’s vision. Those conservation delivery functions include habitat delivery, legislative advocacy, and education & outreach. Get to know Ron through this fun conversation. Episode Highlights: • Ron talks about growing up in Wyoming and his career steps with the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, Nebraska Game & Parks, and as a Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist in South Dakota. • The guys talk about the fact that Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever employ 268 biologists which is more than almost every state natural resource agency in the country and only second to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at the federal level. • Leathers explains how he’ll lead the organization’s conservation team with the cowboy philosophy of “riding for the brand.” • The duo talk pheasants, quail, sage grouse, lesser prairie chickens, public land access, and private land conservation through this wide-ranging conversation about the organization’s past successes and future direction.