The Pheasants and Habitat, Inc. annual fund raising banquet will be held March 15, at Grumpy's in Grand Meadow. The banquet, advertisements that are in the banquet program and raffle tickets sold are the main way this group raises funding to purchase land for future habitat.

The president of Pheasants and Habitat for the past five years has been Bruce Beeman. The South Central Minnesota group was established 20 years ago.

"We used to purchase pheasants and give them away, now we buy land. We have 100 acres of our own acquired and this is open to the public," said Beeman.

Three years ago, land was purchased near Lyle. This year, they put a buffer strip around the wetland and sold the tillable land. Thirty-five acres were donated near Blooming Prairie and 500 pheasants were released in the Mower County area. The group is seeking to purchase more habitat and this is possible only by donations.

The annual Pheasant and Habitat banquet is open to the public. You don't have to be a hunter to appreciate the work this group does. They have worked with schools and made donations to conservation and have helped purchase trees and wild prairie grasses.

"We help our community. Every year we take a boy's name and a girl's name from the Christmas Sharing Tree and buy $100 worth of gifts for each of them," Beeman said.

The Pheasant and Habitat are always looking for new members. The banquet is a popular event with the many raffles and door prizes that are drawn throughout the night. To purchase a ticket or a raffle call Bruce Beeman at 433-4286. They may also be purchased at Lu's Country Store at the Oak Park Mall at 433-6270.