SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — The National Pheasant Fest scheduled for February in Sioux Falls has been canceled.
The major event is sponsored by Pheasants Forever.
They say they canceled the event “amid concerns for the safety and well-being of its members, chapters, partners, staff and general public within the ongoing pandemic.”
Teri Schmidt with Experience Sioux Falls tells KELO Radio’s Bill Zortman that the event will be scheduled some other year in Sioux Falls.
Schmidt adds that the tourism industry in Sioux Falls is “heartbroken” over the cancellation, but they had been working with Pheasants Forever and knew this was a possibility.
The 2022 Pheasant Fest is scheduled for Omaha.
Below is the news release from Pheasants Forever about the cancellation.
(Bill Zortman, KELO.com News, contributed to this report.)
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Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever today announced the difficult decision to cancel the nation’s largest gathering of upland hunters, the 2021 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic, amid concerns for the safety and well-being of its members, chapters, partners, staff and general public within the ongoing pandemic.
“National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic is driven by the person-to-person interactions surrounding our partners, exhibitors, bird dogs, hunting heritage, youth, banquets and so much more,” said Howard Vincent, president and CEO of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “Similarly, the organization’s habitat conservation mission over the long-term depends on keeping people healthy and engaged. We are simply not going to put our supporters in harm’s way. Instead, we will look forward to a remarkable 2022 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in Omaha.”
Despite the cancellation of the nation’s premier upland hunting/conservation event, plans are already underway to host a virtual gathering in late February to kick off a brand new, mission-centric campaign aimed at increasing public lands, upland bird populations, and upland hunters as a whole. More information about a virtual event and accompanying auction will be available in the coming weeks.
National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic staff are currently communicating with all registered sponsors and exhibitors for 2021 to discuss alternative partnership opportunities in lieu of a national event, and options available for guaranteed booth space in Omaha, March 11-13, 2022. The event will return to Sioux Falls in the future, but Omaha had been locked in for 2022 prior to the pandemic. Omaha has previously hosted National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in 2005 and 2011. Nebraska represents the organization’s 3rd largest membership state, behind only Minnesota and Iowa. For more information or questions about booth space for the 2022 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic, contact Gerry Cliff (gcliff@pheasantsforever.org) or Luc Ramthun (lramthun@pheasantsforever.org).
“We’ve seen some amazing upland bird numbers this season, with lots of new hunters afield too,” said Vincent. “Likewise, we’ve experienced incredible support for the organization amid a global health crisis in this unprecedented year. Once again, the uplands have proven their value to all Americans as a place to cherish. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever intend to keep things that way by keeping everyone safe and healthy.”
