Rooster RoadTrip Bio: Andrew Vavra

Rooster RoadTripper: Andrew Vavra

Name/Position:

Andrew Vavra, Pheasants Forever Marketing Specialist

Your Bird Dog:

I have a year and a half old yellow Labrador retriever named Beau. She hails from Hunters Point Kennel and attended bird dog college at Spring Creek Kennels (both located close to Marshalltown, Iowa). She hit the fields running at 5 months and has really developed into a great dog with a knack for finding birds and making me laugh. Beau was along on the Rooster Road Trip last fall, but she’s a whole new beast this year and I can’t wait to see her run circles around Bob St. Pierre’s GSP… Puts a smile on my face just thinking of it! *Please Note: I am fully aware of my delusions of grandeur.

How Long Have You Been With Pheasants Forever?

3 years

What’s Your Favorite Pheasants Forever Event?

Pheasants Forever’s Bird Dogs for Habitat campaign. It’s our annual online competition where people vote for their favorite dog breed by making donations toward our ongoing support of upland habitat. The competition is fierce and although the Vizlas won last year, I’m predicting the Labs will pick it up a notch this December!

What’s the Best Part about Being Involved with Pheasants Forever?

Knowing I’m absolutely surrounded by people who wake up every morning with the mentality that we are making a difference and that we are leaving a lasting legacy. Our employees and volunteers are fully committed to our mission of upland wildlife conservation. You’d be amazed how many banquets they’ve attended, how many miles they’ve put on their truck, how many acres chapters have benefitted and how many youth they’ve introduced to the upland world. We truly are one team with one mission.

Rooster RoadTripper: Beau (Andrew's Yellow Lab)

What’s Your Favorite Pheasants Forever Project?

My favorite Pheasants Forever project is the Build a Wildlife Area campaign. Encompassing six states, this project brings together matching grants from Pheasants Forever, local governments, individuals and corporations with the sole goal of acquiring and protecting thousands of acres and subsequently opening them all to public hunting. After launching in Minnesota, Build a Wildlife Area campaigns have had success in Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota and, most recently, Illinois and Ohio. All told, the respective campaigns have already helped create more than 4,300 acres of new wildlife areas!

What Are You Looking Forward to During Pheasants Forever’s Rooster Road Trip 2011?

I’m looking forward to showing that regardless of what the pheasant numbers are for a certain year, you and your family and friends can go find public land and have a great time. Also, to be quite honest, I’m excited to give my fellow upland addicts a reprieve from the big game culture that dominates our televisions. Don’t get me wrong, I hunt whitetails myself, but I think it’s definitely time to give our fellow rooster road-warriors something to cackle about!

Back to Rooster Road Trip HomePage