upcoming events
Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (KACD) Annual Convention 2024
Come to Wichita for the 80th Annual Kansas Association of Conservation Districts.
The 2024 Annual Convention theme is Kansas Conservation – Growing for 80 years. This event is open to the public and offers a unique opportunity to learn about the ongoing conservation efforts in Kansas!
For more information and to register, visit: www.kacd.net.
Improving Soil Health Workshop
In this workshop you will hear firsthand experience from farmers who have implemented compost extracts to improve soil health and reduce input costs. Additional topics include rotational grazing, weed management, and thinking outside the box to increase revenue.
To learn more and register, visit: kssoilhealth.org.
Christmas Bird Count
Interested in participating in the National Audubon Society's annual Christmas Bird Count? This is an excellent opportunity for birding enthusiasts to be involved in citizen science and contribute to decades of data!
Visit: https://www.audubon.org/.../chr.../join-christmas-bird-count find a count near you.
For more information about counts in Kansas and what to expect, visit:
An Assessment of Native Seed Needs and the Capacity for Their Supply
Join Monarch Joint Venture for a conservation webinar presented by Kay Havens, Chicago Botanic Garden!
A 2023 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says the insufficient supply of seeds from native plants is a major barrier to ecological restoration and other revegetation projects across the United States. The report calls for concerted action to build a more robust native seed supply and industry, especially as climate change increases the possibility of extreme weather events and wildfires that often damage natural areas. We will review findings and recommendations from the report, as well as progress that has been made since the report release.
Register here: Monarch Joint Venture | Kindful
29th Annual No-Till on the Plains Winter Conference
Come to the Not-Till On the Plains Winter Conference!
Conference Keynotes include:
Dwayne Beck, Professor Emeritus and former Research Manager at Dakota Lakes Research Farm in Pierre, SD
Jeff Lowefels, Author of “Teaming with Fungi,” “Teaming with Microbes,” and “Teaming with Nutrients”
Don’t miss the Advanced Workshop: Agriculture’s Innovative Minds (AIM) on Thursday, January 23!
There will be no fundamentals workshop this year.
To register, visit: www.notill.org.
Kansas Natural Resources Conference
Kansas Natural Resources Conference 2025
Building Tomorrow’s Wildlife Habitats: Strategies for Success
For more information and to register, visit: kansasnrc.org.
Women Managing the Farm Conference
For more information and to register, visit: womenmanagingthefarm.org.
2025 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic
Find more Pheasant Fest information at: pheasantsforever.org!
AZA SAFE Monarch: Engagement and Conservation in Zoo and Aquariums
Join Monarch Joint Venture for a webinar presented by Travis Kurtz, Lauren Barczak, and Jen Klotz!
I’m Holding out for a (habitat) Hero presented by Travis Kurtz, John Ball Zoo: This presentation will talk about using native plant giveaways as a replicable model for augmenting urban pollinator habitat, and as a gateway to engaging our local communities in pollinator conservation.
Small but Mighty: Creating Change for Monarchs in Small Zoos and Aquariums presented by Lauren Barczak and Jen Klotz, Brandywine Zoo: Even the smallest institutions can inspire monumental conservation action for monarchs through community engagement! This presentation will discuss models for events and programs that institutions of any size can utilize, highlighting the Brandywine Zoo’s successful Mighty Monarch Day event, participation in Symbolic Migration, citizen science efforts, and more!
Register here: Monarch Joint Venture | Kindful
Woodland Prescribed Burn School
Morning in-class presentations will cover aspects of planning and conducting a successful woodland prescribed burn. Afternoon sessions will have participants conducting a woodland prescribed burn.
Fire line instructors will be paired up with 2 to 3 participants who will rotate between each aspect of conducting a woodland prescribed burn.
Lunch will be provided.
Contact Luke Berning at lrberning@ksu.edu with questions.
30th Annual PF Sunflower Chapter 2024 Banquet
Join Oberlin’s PF Sunflower Chapter for their annual banquet!
For questions contact Rich Ballard at 208-597-4551.
To purchase tickets and RVSP, visit: PFQF Event Center.
Ringneck Rustlers 2024 Annual Banquet
Join Ringneck Rustlers for a fun-filled evening with a live auction featuring amazing items, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and exciting packages, all geared toward our active hunting community!
For more information, text:
Joshua May
316-305-6237
President - Ringneck Rustlers
To RSVP, visit: PFQF Event Center.
Brush Up! How to Manage Woody Encroachment Field Day
The public is invited to a day of learning!
Experts will discuss and demonstrate brush management, woody encroachment, livestock water supply, and implementing cover crops with livestock grazing.
Event highlights include:
Brush Management
Woody Encroachment
Water Quality
Lunch will be provided!
RSVP by calling 785-472-3161, ext. 3.
Harvesting Hope: Drought Resilience in Crop Farming
This will be a workshop/field day focused on drought resilience and meant to bring farmers together to discuss strategies for managing water scarcity and crop productivity during dry conditions.
Event Agenda:
8:30am | Check-In at Sedgwick County Extension Education Center
9:00am | Drought Resilience with Dale Strickler
10:00am | Farmer Panel: “Problems you’ve faced and how did you overcome them?”
11:00am | Drought Resilience field discussion at Joseph Neville’s field
Boxed lunched will be provided in field!
Space is limited, so RSVP with your local Conservation District by November 3.
For more information, visit: kssoilhealth.org.
Cloud County Pheasants Forever Annual Youth Hunt
Cloud County Pheasants Forever will be hosing their annual youth hunt on Sunday, November 3, 2024!
Participants will meet at Purewater of NCK at 7am and depart at 7:30 for Kansas Creek GameBirds for the hunt.
Shotgun shells, water, and donuts will be provided in the morning as well as hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch.
Hunt will be limited to 25 participants, and youth must have completed a Hunter's Safety Course prior to attending the youth hunt.**
Please direct questions and registration to 785-275-1173 and 785-275-1231.
Route 36 Quail Forever Annual Youth Bird Hunt
Come join us for our annual Youth Bird Hunt at the Trouvaille Hunting Lodge!
There will be a day of Hunter's Safety, trap shooting, and bird hunting.
All youth must have a signed waiver form filled out by their respective parents or guardians.
Lunch will be provided!
Dickinson County Pheasants Forever Wade Beemer Youth Hunt
Join us for a fun youth event!
Free to youth ages 9-15!! Youth must be accompanied by an adult.
All youth participants will have the opportunity to engage in 5 activities such as target practice with .22 rifles, skeet shooting, archery skills (Chapman High School Archery Club, and bird cleaning lessons.
Each youth participant will be given a free T-shirt (please indicate your size when registering). Youth entered in the event will also automatically be entered for the chance to win a lifetime hunting license, a Henry 22 rifle, and a 20 Gauge GForce over/under shotgun.
Event is limited to 50 youth participants, so register early! Deadline for registration is October 3, 2024.
For more information, visit: PFQF Event Center.
Monarchs and the Military: MJV Collaboration on Public Lands
Join Monarch Joint Venture for a conservation webinar!
Register here: Monarch Joint Venture | Kindful
Nemaha County Pheasants Forever Annual Banquet
Join us for an enjoyable evening while supporting local upland birds! Be prepared for a great night of dinner, fun and festivities - and learn how your dollars go to support local upland habitat conservation efforts!
Make a difference for habitat conservation and getting our youth outdoors! Your participation makes a difference in habitat conservation and encourages outdoor experiences for our youth. Secure your seating by buying tickets today. Thank you for supporting our Pheasants Forever chapter, where 100% of raised funds directly benefit Habitat, Youth, and Conservation Education & Outreach in Kansas!
Doors Open at 5:30pm
Dinner Starts at 7:00pm
***Tickets are strongly encouraged to be pre-purchased in advance. You are emailed tickets that can be scanned in at the door for immediate entry.***
To purchase tickets and RSVP, please visit: PFQF Event Center.
Waconda Ringnecks Trap Shoot
Join the Waconda Ringneck Pheasants Forever Chapter for an exciting trap shoot, where your registration includes two boxes of 12 or 20 gauge shells and 50 clays on us—come for the sport, stay for the camaraderie!
Agenda: 10am Sign-In; Shooting Starts at 11am; Tristar Products Setter S/T Over/Under 20 Gauge Shotgun giveaway after the shooting ***must be present to win. Paradise Eats food truck will be on site for lunch purchases.
Contact: Call 785-534-0017 or 785-534-2823 for registration. Must be pre-registered to attend the event, and there are limited spots available.
Annual Fort Riley Outdoorsmens Group Skeet and Trap Fun Shoot
*Team registration opens at 9:00am
*Shooting begins at 10:00am
*5 Person Teams (Individual Shooters Welcome)
*Rental Guns & Ammunition Available for Purchase
*$100 per Team/$20 per person
All Proceeds Go to the Fort Riley Outdoorsmens Group!
All Personal Weapons MUST be Registered on Fort Riley to Participate!
Visitors/Guests/Non-DoD cardholders and weapons registration MUST go to the Fort Riley Visitors Control Center at Henry Drive, Junction City 66441.
To obtain an online visitor's access pass or for more information on registering personally owned weapons, Go to Visitor and Access Information :: U.S. Army Fort Riley
Early Team Registration or Questions? email: Froutdoorsmengroup@gmail.com
2024 Forestry Field Day
Register by September 24 to attend the 2024 Forestry Field Day hosted by Kansas Forestry Alliance!
This event will take place at a beautiful mature forest and adjacent prairie restoration project area just northeast of Baldwin City. The property is next to the famous Baldwin Woods Forest Preserve.
Presentation topics will include:
Tick borne disease and prevention
Advanced chainsaw clinic
Woodland birds
Prairie restoration and maintenance
Woodland foraging
Kansas Land Trust
To RSVP for event, visit: ksforestryassociation.org.
Hunter Safety Course and Youth Day
Join Marion County Quail Forever for their annual Hunter Safety Course and Youth Day!
Hunter Safety Classroom Work will be held at the Foods Building, Fairgrounds in Hillsboro. Course is limited to 50 people. Minimum age is 11, and pre-registration is required.
Hunter Safety: All applicants must first complete an online hunter safety course to qualify to finish in Marion.
Youth Day will be held at JC and Susan Saunders home (1966 Diamond Road, Lehigh). Consists of controlled live fire instruction which teaches safety as well as responsible and fun shooting techniques. Lunch is provided. Ages 8-15 are welcome. Limit of 50 participants.
Contact Randy Jantz (620-877-7791) with any questions.
Ninnescah Pheasants Forever 3rd Annual Fundraiser Banquet
Please join us for an evening celebrating the iconic Ringneck Pheasant and Bobwhite Quail; the history, tradition, and future of our upland birds in Kansas!
One of Kansas's greatest nights in conservation includes a dinner plus a cash bar, auctions, raffles, and games to win guns and other great prizes - all to benefit local upland habitat conservation, education, and outreach efforts in Kansas.
Tickets are strongly encouraged to be pre-purchased in advance for this event and bypass the line! You will be emailed tickets that can be scanned in at the door for immediate entry.
Our committee decides how 100% of all the funds we raise are used to best benefit the local habitat and outreach efforts. *Note: there is a small convenience fee added to the order to cover the processing fees.
To RSVP and purchase tickets, please visit: PFQF Event Center.
Jackson Danner Memorial Shoot
Join us for a memorial shoot hosted by the Danner Families and K16 Quail Forever!
Prizes will be awarded for:
Top Male
Top Female
Tops Junior
Under 14 and 15-18
To RSVP and get tickets, please visit: PFQF Event Center.
Bird Dog Rendezvous
Join us for an exclusive event celebrating our beloved bird dogs and the strong community that surrounds them.
What to Expect:
Demonstrations: Watch Jessica Lemen from Standing Stone Kennels and her dogs showcase various skills and techniques.
One-on-One Sessions: Have personalized training sessions with professional trainers to address your specific needs. Includes 3 live birds per dog.
Q&A with a Veterinarian: Get answers to all your burning questions about bird dog health and care from Dr. Ian Patterson from the Veterinary Clinic of Symbioun Inc. in Abilene, Kansas.
Dinner & Drinks: Enjoy a delicious dinner paired with drinks, perfect for unwinding after a day in the field.
Social Hour: Connect with fellow enthusiasts and share stories during our evening social hour.
Tailgate Invitation: All rendezvous participants are invited to attend a tailgate, sponsored by Hayden Outdoors, on September 28, 2024. Registrants will be provided with more details once the date approaches and game times are set.
Whether you're a seasoned handler or new to the world of bird dogs, this event offers something for everyone. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn, network, and celebrate our bird dogs.
**Registration numbers are limited! This clinic focuses on pointers and flushers, and there is a limit of one dog per participant.**
To RSVP, please visit: PFQF Event Center.
Tracking Shifts in Food Availability for Monarchs and Other Pollinators
Joint Monarch Joint Venture for a conservation webinar presented by Erin Posthumus, USA National Phenology Network!
Monarchs depend on a diverse suite of host plants along their migration path. Knowledge of when and where plants are leafing and flowering, and how climate change is shifting the timing, is critical for understanding availability of food resources. In this presentation I will describe how the USA National Phenology Network engages volunteer and professional scientists in collecting data on presence and intensity of leafing and flowering with simple yet scientifically rigorous phenology protocols. I’ll also describe our recent efforts to establish climate drivers to flowering and seed timing to make predictions of how this timing will shift under future climate conditions.
Register here: Monarch Joint Venture | Kindful
20th Annual Fort Riley Outdoorsmen Group Banquet
Join the nation's leading habitat organizations for a night of food, fun, and friends! Come out to raise funds for the Fort Riley Outdoorsmen Group while possible winning some of the following items: Guided Hunts, Fishing Trips, Rare Bourbons, and Guns!
Social Hour and Games: 5:00pm
Dinner: 6:30pm
Live Auction: 7:30pm.
Thank you for supporting our chapter! Our committee decides how 100% of all the funds we raise are used to best benefit the local habitat.
To RSVP and purchase tickets, please visit: PFQF Event Center.
Monarch Mania
Experience Monarch Mania at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge!
This free family event will include:
Catching migrating monarchs for tagging
Crafts
Face painting
Refreshments
For more information, call (620) 410-4011 or visit: www.fws.gov/refuge/quivira.
K-16 Quail Forever Clay Shoot
Come out for the Second Annual K-16 Quail Forever Sporting Clays Shoot at Cokeley Farms!
Individual or 4-man teams: limited to 96 shooters.
Prizes for:
Top 3 Teams
High Overall
Top Male
Top Female
Top First Responder
Top Veteran
Top Kid 8-13 and 14-17
Side games and raffles avaliable, meal is included with entry!
Tickets or Sponsorships Available at: Sporting Clay Tickets.
Grazing Management Workshop
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to join a two-day Grazing Management Workshop hosted by SAVE with several workshop sponsors!
Event is free and includes lunch both days!
Workshop is offered to current producers, beginning farms and ranchers, veterans, and transitioning service members interested in, or currently engaged in, land management and grazing activities.
To learn more and RSVP, please visit: kssoilhealth.org.
Advancing Farming Field Day
Together with the Kansas Soil Health Alliance, Smith, Phillips, and Norton County Conservation Districts invite landowners, farmers, ranchers, gardeners, or anyone with an interest in learning more about improving soil productivity and profitability to the Advancing Farming Field Day on Monday, September 16th in Almena. Guests will meet at the Almena Community Center beginning at 3:30PM and depart for the field tours at 4:00PM. Following the tours, guests will return to the Almena Community Center for a free meal and presentation.
Guests are asked to register online at www.kssoilhealth.com or call Joanna at 913-558-2363 by Monday, September 9th to ensure proper meal headcount.
Mooney Creek Pheasants Forever Banquet
Join us for an enjoyable evening while supporting local upland birds! Be prepared for a great night of dinner, fun and festivities - and learn how your dollars go to support local upland habitat conservation efforts!
Make a difference for habitat conservation and getting our youth outdoors! Your participation makes a difference in habitat conservation and encourages outdoor experiences for our youth. Secure your seating by buying tickets today. Thank you for supporting our Pheasants Forever chapter, where 100% of raised funds directly benefit Habitat, Youth, and Conservation Education & Outreach in Kansas!
***Tickets are strongly encouraged to be pre-purchased in advance. You are emailed tickets that can be scanned in at the door for immediate entry.***
To RSVP and purchase tickets, please visit: PFQF Event Center.
Turtle Tots - Butterflies, Beetles, and Bees, Oh My!
Butterflies, Beetles, and Bees, Oh My! Turtle Tots, a nature-based program for preschool youth ages 3-5 attending with their caregiver, will kick off this fall on Friday September 13 from 10-11am at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. Youth will go exploring for pollinators, examine the butterfly lifecycle, read a story, and make a craft.
This one-hour program is offered at no charge. Outdoors, weather permitting.
Registration is required. Call 620-566-1456, or email amkern2@fhsu.edu by Sept. 11 to register.
KGLC Shortgrass Academy
Learn more about rangeland management in a friendly setting with other ranchers, land managers, range management students and natural resource professionals!
Shortgrass Academy is not just about passive learning, it's about hands-on experiences. Dive into our immersive workshops and masterclasses led by experts in various fields. Network with like-minded individuals and establish valuable connections within the Shortgrass community. Whether you're an established professional seeking fresh perspectives or a novice looking to dive headfirst into the world of managing Shortgrass, there is something for everyone. Discover innovative solutions to real-world challenges, explore emerging trends, and gain valuable insights that can shape your practice. You do not want to miss this!
Besides learning plant identification, figuring stocking rates, monitoring vegetation response, estimating forage allocation and the rest of basics needed to manage your rangeland, there will be ranchers and natural resource professionals from NRCS and other organizations talking with you about how to plan long term for whatever nature or market forces bring to your ranching enterprise and how to respond to keep your rangeland health high and your livestock productive.
The cost is $350 per student and covers room & board, meals and tuition for the 2 ½ day academies. Scholarships of $175 are available for landowners, ranchers and operators. Contact your local conservation district for a scholarship.
To register, visit: kglc.org.
Climate and Pollinator Initiatives at the USDA
Join Monarch Joint Venture for a conservation webinar presented by Izzy Hill, USDA Pollinator Coordinator!
USDA has over 20 offices and 14 research labs working on pollinator initiatives, with climate being a top environmental stress of concern. This presentation will provide an overview of policy, programmatic, and research efforts happening across the Department and how they aim to help support long-term pollinator health.
Register here: Monarch Joint Venture | Kindful
In The Life Of Wasps: Hunters, Pollinators, Masons, And More
Join the Xerces Society to learn more about the diverse lives of wasps! Pollinator Conservation Specialists, Jennifer Hopwood and Rae Powers will outline the roles of wasps, highlight some key groups, outline conservation measures, and address concerns about wasps.
Learn more and register today!
Bottom Line Conference
The Bottom Line Conference will take a comprehensive look at techniques and systems that will improve bottom lines, soil production and profits in the drier Southwest Kansas climate.
There is no better time than NOW to learn all we can about soil health.
Topics include:
Soil health, function, and productivity
Water holding capacity of various soils
Organic matter and water infiltration
Increasing profits by augmenting organic matter
Operation strategies for less inputs and more profits
Holistic farm management and financial planning
Grazing management strategies for better soils, livestock productivity, watershed function and more!
For more information and to register, visit: bottomlineconference.org.