By Steve Weisman

(photo courtesy Pheasants Forever) Overhead view of ’23 Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic

It’s that time of year…the National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic (PF/QC), is less than a month away! I know it sounds crazy, but with ice fishing coming to a grinding and watery halt, it’s time to look for something else, and to me, that event is the 2024 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic set for the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, SD on March 1-3. Hours will be noon to 7 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The PF/QC is billed as the nation’s largest upland tradeshow and convention with something for everyone including hunters, landowners and bird dog enthusiasts. Coming attractions for 2024 include the annual Bird Dog Parade, the Friday Night Upland Rally, Public Lands Pavilion, Path to the Uplands Stage, Habitat Help Desk and Stage, Bird Dog Stage, Youth Village, and more than 400 unique vendors featuring outfitters, gear, food, and so much more!

“National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic is like going to an amusement park if you get jacked up about habitat, shotguns, and dogs,” explains Scott Rall, president of the Nobles County Chapter of Pheasants Forever in Worthington, MN. “I’ve been to every single Fest, and I am looking forward to seeing old friends and new ones in Sioux Falls soon.”

According to Bob St. Pierre, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for PF, “This event is a lot of fun for the entire family. From playing with puppies to hands-on learning activities, we take great pride in making this a family-centric event that inspires, educates, and entertains.”

Tickets start at $15 for one day for individuals, $5 for youth between the ages of 6-16, and $35 a day for families. These tickets include a six-month membership to Pheasants Forever. In fact, youngsters 16 and under get in free on Family Day, which occurs on Sunday, March 3. A full weekend package costs $95 and includes an annual membership to Pheasants Forever. Tickets and more information can be found at PheasantFest.org.

Past PF & QF President and CEO Howard Vincent, probably says it the best, “National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic is driven by the person-to-person interactions surrounding our partners, exhibitors, bird dogs, hunting heritage, youth, banquets, and so much more.“

Here’s a look back at the attendance numbers for the last couple of years. The 2022 event drew 21,939 held at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, NE, while the 2023 edition held at the Minneapolis Convent Center broke records for both attendance and membership, with 33,154 show-goers in attendance. What will 2024 bring? An early spring and no early March snowstorm could help the attendance soar!

So, why go?

First off, it’s like one huge, huge state fair-all under one roof. After all, it is the largest upland show in America! Plus, the location of the Sioux Falls Convention Center/Denny Sanford PREMIER Center is an incredibly easily accessible venues in the Midwest. With 139,000 square feet within the entire complex, there is plenty of room for those who attend the PH/QF.

St. Pierre adds, “There is no doubt that Sioux Falls rolls out the orange carpet for the National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic. Everyone in town and at the PREMIER Center is so welcoming and customer-oriented. We love holding this even in Sioux Falls.

A little about Pheasants Forever

Pheasants Forever (PF) is a grassroots, volunteer, membership-based organization. Members are a diverse group of hunters, farmers, ranchers, landowners, conservation enthusiasts, and wildlife officials. The common thread is that they all want to make a difference for wildlife by conserving or creating habitat.

With a diverse staff, PF has more than 175 biologists to help landowners plan and then plant the best wildlife habitat based on their location and soil types.

As an organization, the key to its longevity and success revolves around their 130,000 members belonging to local chapters that hold more than 750 fundraising banquets. These members and local chapters are truly the driving force for PF as the recognized leader in wildlife habitat projects accomplished and the leading advocate for wildlife habitat conservation.

St. Pierre talks about the impact of this three-day event. “One component that cannot be understated about National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic is that this three-day event will leave a lasting impact on the land.  From landowners talking conservation programs with our biologist to our fundraising efforts to create more habitat and public access, this event will leave a positive habitat footprint on the land thanks to our attendees and sponsors.”