Shaun is a Farm Bill Biologist III for Pheasants Forever (PF) working with landowners across the northeastern portion of Montana, known as the Hi-Line. Our first “People of the Partnership” recognition, the PPJV would like to say:
Thank you, Shaun, for all of the hard work you’ve done for grassland conservation!
I enjoy working with the local landowners along the Hi-Line. There is a unique opportunity here to retain and enhance the existing grasslands, as well as restore areas that have previously been converted to cropland. I grew up on the southeastern side of the Prairie Pothole Region, where most of the native habitat has been lost or fragmented; so keeping the habitat along the Hi-Line intact is very important to me.
Hunter VanDonsel, Montana State Coordinator for PF, shared a little about Shaun’s impact in the community, conservation delivery, and his strong leadership:
Shaun has been a leader in conservation delivery across the Hi-line, providing critical support to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, forging strong and lasting landowner partnerships, delivering an incredible amount of conservation planning and implementation, and advancing PF’s Montana Grassland Initiative.
38,000 acres
304 landowner contracts
50% RCPP pre-approval rate
Shaun delivered over 38,000 acres of technical assistance and implementation work to enhance, restore, and retain grasslands and he has conducted over 304 landowner contacts. He has been an incredible leader in providing outreach and planning support for the $25 million Montana Grasslands and Wildlife Corridors RCPP and has single-handedly brought forward 6 applications, with 3 pre-approved for funding. He is driving forward USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife projects, is a leader on the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance Conservation Committee, a leader on the Montana Grassland Partnership grassland retention team, and is driving multiple projects through a recent NFWF award.
Shaun repeatedly builds strong partnerships, is a leader on the PF team, receiving PF’s 2026 Acre Maker Award, and deserves additional recognition.
If you see Shaun around the Hi-Line or the nearest fishing hole, make sure to stop and thank him for being a valuable conservation partner to the community.