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Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Honors Landowners for Habitat Improvements

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources recently announced the winners of its Habitat Improvement Program awards. Each year, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife recognizes landowners in five regions who made outstanding efforts in restoring habitat on their property. An overall winner for Kentucky is also chosen.

John Sawyers took the overall state and Green River Region Award for wildlife habitat improvements on three farms he owns and manages in Allen County. David Quast, Patricia Quast and Mark Jacobs won the Bluegrass Region Habitat Improvement Award for practices implemented on the 200-acre Split Rock Conservation Park in Boone County.

Thomas Morris won the Purchase Region award for work conducted on 340 acres in Graves County while Jeff Hopkins won the Southeast Region award for improvements on his 272-acre property in Adair County. Alan Sublett won the Northeast Region award for wildlife-friendly practices on his 350-acre property in Johnson County.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife established the Habitat Improvement Program in 1987. The program is one of the oldest state-funded cost share programs in the southeastern United States.

Any landowner may receive technical assistance, a management plan and equipment loans through the Habitat Improvement Program. The program also provides cost share at 75 percent with a $1,000 limit per landowner annually. The Habitat Improvement Program has provided more than 11,000 landowners in Kentucky with technical guidance, improving roughly 2.1 million acres of wildlife habitat.

"With more than 90 percent of Kentucky in private ownership, it is important to recognize those landowners, business partners and conservationists who go above and beyond for our wildlife resources," said Ben Robinson, small game biologist for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "These landowners, business partners and conservationists represent the best Kentucky has to offer. Their hard work and dedication should not be overlooked."

This year's winners include:

Overall State and Green River Region:
John Sawyer
Sawyers established 414 acres of riparian buffer along streams on his property, the largest enrollment of its kind in Kentucky. He also stopped production of two farms and converted them to wildlife-friendly Farm Bill programs and established test plots of warm season grasses used by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife biologists. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Farm Bill biologist Danny Hughes nominated Sawyer for this award. His Kentucky Fish and Wildlife private lands biologist is Bill Lynch.

Southeast Region:
Jeff Hopkins
Hopkins improved 2,600 feet of fencerows with tree and shrub plantings on his 272-acre property in Adair County. He also established 1.5 miles of field borders with native grasses and forbs. Hopkins opens his property to hunting and outdoor recreation for friends, family and especially youth. His Kentucky Fish and Wildlife private lands biologist is Chris Mason.

Purchase Region:
Thomas Morris
Morris installed Farm Bill programs on 70 acres of his 340-acre Graves County property and offers hunting opportunities for friends, family and area youth. He also lets local churches use his property for retreats. Morris actively manages wildlife habitat using recommendations from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff. His Kentucky Fish and Wildlife private lands biologist is Tony Black.

Bluegrass Region:
David Quast, Patricia Quast and Mark Jacobs - Split Rock Conservation Park
The Quasts and Jacobs manage this 200-acre Boone County property for wildlife. They've developed 1.5 miles of hiking trails through key wildlife habitats for educational purposes. They host educational field days for the Boone County Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service. They also have 1,500 visitors annually to learn about wildlife-friendly practices and preserving natural resources. Their Kentucky Fish and Wildlife private lands biologist is Clay Smitson.

Northeast Region:
Alan Sublett
Sublett has nearly 40 acres enrolled in state and federal cost share programs to benefit wildlife and wildlife habitat. He works with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to achieve wildlife management goals. He also opens his property for youth hunting. His Kentucky Fish and Wildlife private lands biologist is Harley Weaver.

For more information about the Habitat Improvement Program, contact your Kentucky Fish and Wildlife private lands biologist. A map showing the private lands biologist for your region may be viewed at fw.ky.gov. Click on the "Maps and Online Services" tab, then on the "Other KDFWR Maps" tab. You may also contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office for information on habitat improvement programs.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, has an economic impact to the state of $4.5 billion annually. For more information on Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, visit our web site at fw.ky.gov.

Media Contact:
Lee McClellan (800) 852-0942 ext. 4443