The Crowing Post:  05/28/07

Support the Bill Baxter Scholarship Fund 

On Monday, February 5, 2007, a true champion for wildlife and youth hunting passed away.  Bill Baxter, long-time friend of PF, NGPC biologist for 35+ years and champion of past Farm Bill debates passed away after a long battle with cancer. 

 For those of you that might not have known Bill, here are a few brief facts to help paint the picture:

  • Bill became a life member of PF in 1997, one of the first life members in Nebraska.  Bill openly showed his support of PF and proclaimed PF as “the best wildlife conservation organization in the country!”.
  • When CRP or other conservation programs in the Farm Bill needed a champion, Bill was that person.  Few people brought the passion and background to the Farm Bill debate that Bill did.  It’s safe to say that everyone reading this letter has personally benefited from his passion and artful debate during past Farm Bills.  We wouldn’t have as many acres in CRP (or even a program at all) if it weren’t for champions like Bill.
  • Bill was a pioneer in pheasant research field.  As a young wildlife biologist, his landmark research on Nebraska pheasants in the early 1970’s was a guide to the research conducted by many pheasant biologists in the 1980’s.
  • Late in 2006, Bill set up an Irrevocable Trust to turn his Family Farm over to PF.  As an upland gamebird biologist, the Baxter Family Farm has been set up, designed and managed for upland gamebirds.  Today, it serves as a demonstration area for wildlife management and a youth hunting location.  The future hunting access on the farm will be managed by PF with its sole purpose being directed towards mentored youth hunting.
  • One of Bill’s final wishes was to set up a scholarship fund for wildlife students.  He asked PF to serve on a board that annually assists a wildlife graduate student.  It comes as no surprise that his priority areas of interest for funding assistance were either youth hunting or upland gamebirds.  This scholarship will be set up as an endowment fund with the first award to be provided in 2007.

Please consider making a strong, significant donation to the Baxter Wildlife Scholarship Fund.  Your investment in the education and future of a wildlife student will help produce the next champion for wildlife.  If they are half as successful as Bill, that’s a very small investment to make in the future of wildlife and wildlife habitat. 
 

Donations can be sent to:
Pheasants Forever
Attn: Baxter Wildlife Scholarship Fund
1011 Alexander Ave
Elba, NE  68835
308-754-5339

Without future champions for wildlife that have the passion of Bill Baxter, wildlife and our hunting heritage will be worse off.

  

        

 

 habitat today….pheasants forever!