I’m Janet Borchardt, the new Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist covering Winneshiek, Allamakee, Fayette, and Clayton counties! I graduated from Luther College in 2024, where I studied biology and environmental studies. I held positions with the Raptor Resource Project, Iowa DNR, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and Butler County Conservation Board in my 4-year span in college. Since then, I’ve been working as a partner on an NRCS easement team covering 28 counties in NE Iowa, which has grown my passion for private lands conservation immensely. I am thrilled to get the chance to work for Pheasants Forever in my favorite part of the Midwest, the Driftless area, where I went to college and now live with my fiancé near his family’s farm in SE Minnesota. In my free time I enjoy hiking, reading, sourdough making, hawk trapping, playing pickleball, and getting good eats with friends and family.

In the 5 months I’ve been in this position, I’ve been learning all about the programs I’ll be implementing, plant identification, landscapes and geography of the area, and best management practices. A busy season of CRP planning has come and gone in that time, which has given me many opportunities to work on new and re-enrolling CRP plans. This allowed me to make an immediate impact, working with passionate landowners who want to create or improve their wildlife habitat. Spending time in the field, connecting with landowners, colleagues, and partners to put habitat on the landscape has been incredibly rewarding. I look forward to making an impact in this area in the future!

If you would like to reach out to Janet, she can be reached at 319-883-1321 or email [email protected].