VAN LAAR, Jack - Inducted into Pheasants Forever Hall of Fame,
VAN LAAR, REYNOLDS
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 7/20/2016 at 22:19:35
Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Wednesday, October 28, 2015, Pages 1 & 10Van Laar Inducted into Pheasants Forever Hall of Fame
Jack Van Laar of Leon was among 22 members across the state recently inducted into the Iowa Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever Conservation Hall of Fame. Van Laar received his award with half of the 2015 class of inductees at a ceremony held recently at Prairie Meadows in Altoona. The other half of inductees were recognized at a similar dinner and ceremony held in Cedar Rapids the day before.
Hall of Fame members were recognized for their many hours of service and dedication over the years through their involvement in local PF/QF chapters to make a difference in habitat and conservation throughout the state.Van Laar is a founding member of the Decatur County Pheasants Forever chapter serving as president of the chapter for over 20 years and providing 25 years of volunteer service.
Over that time, the Decatur County PF Chapter annually provided seed for 250 -300 acres of food plots. They also provided for several hundred acres of tree, shrub, nesting and winter cover over the years. In addition they provided burn equipment and tree planters for the county conservation board and assisted numerous landowners with advice and recommendations for habitat establishment. In addition, Van Laar cited several chapter accomplishments in youth service, including sponsorship of several youth to State Conservation Camps, support of school and 4-H Shooting Sports teams in Decatur County, including financial sponsorship of training for instructors and team members to state, regional and national events; and the establishment of and continuing contribution to a youth shooting endowment for county shooting sports teams.
A highlight of the induction ceremony was an inspiring keynote address by Shane Mahoney, a renowned and passionate spokesman on conservation issues, widely recognized as a leading authority on North American conservation history and policy.
Nationally Pheasants Forever, “the Habitat Organization”, along with its quail division Quail Forever, has 145,000 grassroots members and volunteers in 750 chapters consisting of a diversified group of hunters, farmers, landowners and conservationists. Annually they support over 10 million acres of habitat work, including acquisition of 175,000 acres for public hunting and host 500,000 [Page 10] participants in youth and education events. This marks the seventh year for the Iowa PF/QF Hall of Fame inductions. Van Laar is the second member of the Decatur County chapter to join this group. Fellow founding member Kevin Reynolds was inducted in 2013.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2015
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