2026 Seminar Wrap Up

Now that this year’s International Pheasant Management Seminar has come to a close, we’re looking back and appreciating all the memories and milestones we reached.

Not only are these seminars a chance for us to come together to learn from one another, but they also provide an amazing opportunity for the industry to gather, connect, and share ideas about growth.

Our Largest Seminar Yet

This year marked our most attended seminar to date. With over 180 attendees, we welcomed more international guests than ever before. Seeing people in the game bird industry come together from throughout the United States, France, Romania, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Canada, Denmark, and Hungary was remarkable.

A Great On-Site Experience

This year was our first seminar, and we hosted everyone at one location. The seminar was hosted at Lake Lawn Resort. Their catering and service were outstanding, and having everything in one location made the experience even more enjoyable. With accommodations, meeting spaces, and meals all on-site, there was more time to connect, continue conversations, and spend meaningful time together throughout the event.

Thank You to Our Speakers For Their Insight & Advice

We had such an amazing lineup of speakers this year, and we are thankful for all the knowledge shared. Our speakers included:

• Dr. Julie Helm with Clemson University shared advice about biosecurity and tips on what to expect when you or a neighbor has HPAI.
• John Tuck with Tuck Farms provided us with amazing advice on how to raise quail successfully.
• Rich Brown, Hatchery Manager at MacFarlane Pheasants, shared with attendees our process of delivering pheasants and insights about what life on the road looks like. 
• Dr. Susan Watkins, a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Arkansas’s Division of Ag, discussed the importance of water quality.
• Rob Sexton discussed the benefits of being a member of NAGA.
• Dr. Carol Cardona from the University of Minnesota shared her thoughts on Avian Influenza and the future.
• Our very own Brian Davis shared advice on reducing brooder mortality and improving profitability.
• Jenna Monahan from Steady Ground Strategies discussed how fractional consulting can bring big solutions to game bird farms without high overhead costs.
• Chris Theisen, MacFarlane Pheasant’s COO, shared more about how we deal with catastrophic events at the farm.
• Jim Heilman of CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors shared insightful advice on saving money on taxes and discussed the impact of tariffs on our industry.
• Phillip Perry from Jamesway shared the benefits of Jamesway incubators.
• Charles Gronning & Robbie Nicolle from Heart of England Farms Ltd discussed how they breed game birds on their farm in England. 
• Todd Churchill with CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors provided everyone with actionable advice on how to structure their books for accounting and make running their business easier. 
• Dr. Joshua Deines, from Zoetis, shared insights on increasing hatch rates and troubleshooting chick mortality. 
• MacFarlane Pheasant’s owner, Bill MacFarlane, shared more about the history of MacFarlane Pheasants and our legacy of growing through collaboration over the years. You can watch Bill’s full presentation here. 

If you’d like contact information for any of the speakers, please reach out to Sarah Pope.

A Meaningful & Successful Women’s Panel

One of the highlights of this year’s event was the women’s panel. The discussion offered thoughtful insights into the experiences, challenges, and opportunities for women in the game bird industry. We are incredibly grateful to these women for sharing their perspectives and speaking openly about their journeys.

• Anna Rainbird, Wallingfen Game Farm
• Cecilia Monthus, Gibovendee
• Michele Bovey, Flying B Ranch

We heard from several attendees that the panel provided a new and valuable viewpoint, and many appreciated the opportunity to hear conversations that had not previously been part of the seminar. It was encouraging to see the engagement and support surrounding this discussion.

Thank You to Our Vendors

This year’s seminar was supported by 14 vendors, and we are incredibly thankful for their participation. Their involvement helps bring additional expertise, resources, and innovation to the event. We appreciate their continued support and the role they play in helping move the industry forward.

Recognizing & Building a Legacy

Our Bi-Ennial International Pheasant Management Seminar is a tradition that Bill MacFarlane started in 1998. These seminars have been such an important part of our growth and connection over the years. 

On the final day of the seminar, NAGA presented Bill with the Legacy Appreciation Award and a commemorative quilt created by the NAGA board members, and we heard from industry leaders who’ve worked alongside Bill for years, including:

• Royd Hatt (Hatt’s Ranch) reflected that there’s no better word than legacy for what Bill is leaving behind.
• Tim Zindl (Oak Ridge Pheasant Ranch) said that he was raised to always leave a place better than he found it, and said that Bill has certainly done that and set the standard for the industry.
• James Clark (J. Clark Consulting) reminded us that the best sermons are lived, not preached.

This seminar was Bill’s final seminar before retirement. He closed out our seminar with a presentation on MacFarlane Pheasant’s history and how collaboration has been a cornerstone of our growth since our founding. 

More Than Competitors

While many of us are technically “competitors”, the seminar continues to feel more like a gathering of friends and family. The openness, willingness to share, support for one another, and encouragement of the next generation are truly special. These relationships are what make this tradition so meaningful year after year.

Building these connections benefits everyone and helps pave the way for future generations in the game bird industry. The knowledge shared today helps ensure the industry continues to grow, adapt, and thrive for years to come.

We were especially excited to host our youngest business owners to date. Tyne and Quinn, pictured below, are 12 and 10 years old and already running their own pheasant business. They currently raise and sell between 1,500 and 2,000 mature pheasants annually in North Dakota. Seeing their enthusiasm, ambition, and dedication at such a young age was inspiring and a great reminder that the future of this industry is in good hands.

We are incredibly grateful for the legacy Bill started with these seminars and proud to see it continue to grow. Thank you to everyone who attended, participated, and helped make this year’s event such a success. 

Stay tuned to see how this legacy unfolds in the coming years.