Knox County banquet supports conservation efforts

The Floral Valley Community Center in Apple Valley was filled Saturday evening with the steady cadence of bidding, the shuffle of bid cards, and the focused hum of conversation as the Knox County Pheasants Forever Chapter #616 hosted its annual banquet and dinner. From the silent auction tables lining the room to the live auctioneer calling out bids, the atmosphere reflected both excitement and purpose. By the time the doors opened, every one of the 325 tickets had been sold, a clear sign that conservation, community, and tradition remain deeply rooted in Knox County.

The evening featured a full dinner along with silent and live auctions, 50/50 raffles, table games, and continuous raffles throughout the night. With 35 table sponsors supporting the event, the banquet served as both a major fundraiser and a celebration of nearly three decades of local conservation efforts led by dedicated volunteers.

Pheasants Forever is widely known as “The Habitat Organization,” a reputation earned through decades of hands-on conservation work. The national organization was founded in 1982 when a group of pheasant hunters recognized the direct connection between upland habitat loss and declining pheasant populations. Their solution was straightforward yet powerful: protect habitat to protect wildlife. As quail numbers continued to decline nationwide, conservationists once again stepped forward in 2005 to form Quail Forever. Together, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever work to conserve pheasants, quail, and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public access, education, and conservation advocacy.

A defining feature of the organization is its unique chapter model. Unlike many national conservation groups, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters retain 100 percent decision-making control over the funds they raise locally. This structure allows volunteers to identify, fund, and implement wildlife habitat projects and youth conservation events tailored specifically to their communities, while still being part of a national organization that advocates for conservation policy at the state and federal levels. Nationwide, the organization hosts more than 750 fundraising events each year, most commonly in the form of annual chapter banquets like the one held Saturday evening.

The Knox County Pheasants Forever Chapter has embodied that local mission for 27 years. The chapter was co-founded by Craig Campbell, Jerry Scott, and Larry Hall, who established the organization with a strong emphasis on habitat conservation and youth involvement. Campbell, who currently serves as Vice President and Youth Chair, reflected on the long-term impact of the chapter’s work.

“One of my favorite memories was seeing one of our former youth members, Taylor Combs, grow up through the program,” Campbell said. Combs participated in youth hunts as a young member of the chapter and is now a Wildlife Officer with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in Hocking County. Campbell said the experience reflects the chapter’s long-term investment in youth education.

Youth education and involvement remain central to the chapter’s mission. Committee member Andrea Smith, who assisted with one of the evening’s raffles, a .22 long rifle, shared her own connection to the organization. Smith joined Pheasants Forever as a youth member when she was just eight years old.

“I remember watching the leadership when I was young and seeing how the chapter continued to grow,” Smith said. “Supporting local habitat improvements matters to me because I’ve seen firsthand how this organization shapes kids and helps the chapter flourish into what it is today.”

The Knox County Pheasants Forever Chapter supports public awareness and conservation education through several annual community events. These include the Annual Outdoor Youth Day at Campbell’s Farm & Sportsman Club, Danville Ladies Night Out at Danville Outdoors, Women on the Wing —a ladies-only trap shoot held at Dove Creek, and the Fall Youth Hunt at Campbell’s Farm & Sportsman Club. The Fall Youth Hunt is a controlled pheasant hunt limited to 20 youth participants to prioritize safety and hands-on education, said Althea Dye, secretary of the chapter. During the event, participants learn firearm safety, ethical hunting practices, and how to hunt pheasants with a trained dog, reinforcing responsible outdoor stewardship.

Beyond traditional conservation programming, the chapter also supports educational opportunities tied to habitat and land management. This year, the Pheasants Forever Chapter is helping sponsor seven Knox County Career Center students who will compete in the National Collegiate Landscape Competition, commonly referred to as the “Landscape Olympics” due to its intense competitive spirit and large scale. The competition will be held in March at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan and is the premier national intercollegiate event for students pursuing careers in the green industry.

Although the competition is primarily designed for two and four-year college programs, Knox County Career Center is one of only a few high schools invited to participate. The event spans three to four days and features more than 700 students from approximately 55 to 70 schools across North America.

Two of the participating students from Knox County, Charley Beheler, President of the local FFA Chapter, and Kyra Carpenter, Vice President, attended Saturday’s banquet and assisted with a raffle to help raise funds for the upcoming competition. They raffled off a utility cart filled with popcorn and sweet treats, drawing attention from attendees throughout the evening. Beheler shared that she will be competing in five events, including tree climbing, landscape maintenance, and a sales presentation. Carpenter will participate in four events, including landscape installation and hardscapes.

As the final bids were called and raffle tickets drawn, the evening underscored the chapter’s enduring impact. Funds raised during the banquet will remain in Knox County, supporting habitat improvements, youth conservation education, and community outreach in the year ahead.

Those interested in learning more about the organization or joining the Knox County Pheasants Forever Chapter #616 may email Secretary Althea Dye at addbaskets@gmail.com. The chapter’s 2026 officers include President Keith Holt, Vice President and Youth Chair Craig Campbell, Treasurer and Banquet Chair Chris Fletcher, Secretary Althea Dye, and Habitat Chair Jason Epley.

Through strong local leadership, dedicated volunteers, and continued community support, The Knox County Pheasants Forever Chapter continues to demonstrate how conservation thrives when it is rooted at home.