Legacy on Limestone Road
By Brenna Riley, Farm Bill Biologist Manager, Western KS
Legacy on Limestone Road:
A History of Habitat with the McPherson Valley Uplands Pheasants Forever Chapter
The McPherson Valley Uplands Chapter came together in 1995 under the leadership of Mike Westerman, a former NRCS District Conservationist. As the new chapter fledged, committee members hoped to leave a worthy legacy for future generations to inherit. From this dream, “The Uplands” was born. With conservation principles at the helm, it became the embodiment of wildlife-centered management practices, outdoor education, and hunting heritage.
In 2008, Brett Reber (notably elected to National PF/QF Board of Directors) negotiated a lifetime lease for a property on Limestone Road in McPherson County. Shortly after the lease was finalized, construction (or rather destruction) began. Through burning down existing structures, drainage-establishment, and seeding native vegetation, "The Uplands" were forged. A shooting range and open-air education pavilion were constructed to provide youth with opportunities to experience the outdoors.
As conservation is a continuous process, the chapter actively consults with local Pheasants Forever biologists and are working towards implementing a customized habitat improvement plan. In the summer of 2023, a massive tree removal effort was carried out followed by the installation of firebreaks to allow for an effective prescribed fire the following year. Next, the chapter has its sights fixed on strategic shrub plantings and a pollinator-friendly forb plot.
Since its inception, “The Uplands” have brought together the community through hosting outreach events, sponsoring student trap teams, and collaborative Eagle Scout projects. When asked why the chapter decided to go all-in, one committee member answered,
“We have to pass along the principles of conservation and preservation to the next generation – if we do not do so, it’s likely that we as hunters and outdoorsman will lose what God/Nature intended for us to have and appreciate.”
It’s this attitude that sets McPherson’s property on Limestone Road apart and carries the vision of its founders.