4:05 a.m. EDT, September 7, 2012

10. Use Good Judgment: If the youth is not ready for hunting, having the youth observe a hunt first is a great option.

Pheasants Forever

Farm Bill team

St. Paul, Minn. - Pheasants Forever announced Eric Magedanz of Revillo, S.D., and Jordan Croatt of Madison, Minn., as the organization's newest Farm Bill Wildlife Biologists in Minnesota. Magedanz will work out of the Ortonville USDA/Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) office in Big Stone County, while Croatt will work from the Marshall USDA/SWCD office in Lyon County.

These positions are a result of Minnesota's Farm Bill Assistance Partnership that provides staffing to local offices, supplying technical assistance to landowners on CRP, Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) and other private lands programs.

A South Dakota native, Magedanz grew up working on his family's farm in Revillo. He graduated from South Dakota State University with a bachelor's degree in biological science and majored in wildlife and fisheries. Prior to joining Pheasants Forever, Magedanz held various positions within the Wildlife Division of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department. Most recently, Magedanz held the position of PF habitat specialist in South Dakota, but relocated with his new position to Minnesota.

Western Governors search for outdoor advocates

DENVER - The Governors of Idaho, Colorado and South Dakota are looking for a few good young men and women. The Governors are inviting young people in their state who are passionate about outdoor recreation to apply for the position of Governors' outreach advocate to kids within their respective states.

The Western Governors' Association and Outdoor Nation created the Youth Outdoor Recreation Outreach Coordinator (YOuROC) pilot project in June. Governors John Hickenlooper (Colo.), Butch Otter (Idaho) and Dennis Daugaard (S.D.) will select the first "YOuROCers" in September. Applications are being accepted now.

"Kids today have more options for their free time than we did growing up, including technologies that have given them new tools to learn and explore," Hickenlooper said.

The coordinator will develop an outreach campaign while leveraging social media to promote the best, most interesting outdoor opportunities in the state to encourage young people and families with kids to get outdoors and be active. Applicants should be between the ages of 18 and 25 and live or attend school in one of the participating states.

To apply go to http://www.

outdoornation.org/

youroccoordinator or call Ivan Levin of Outdoor Nation at 540-818-5818.