Conservation Federation

Share the Harvest allows deer hunters the opportunity to donate a deer or a portion of a deer to Missourians in need. Doing so provides healthy, nutritious meat to individuals or families that otherwise may do without. In Conservation Federation Podcast: Episode 20, Brandon Butler discusses the Share the Harvest program with Darren Haverstick (Chair of CFM Share the Harvest Committee), Travis McLain (MDC Protection Programs Specialist), Scott Baker (State Director, Feeding Missouri), and Tyler Schwartze (CFM Events Manager). The crew covers the importance of fighting hunger across Missouri, and how valuable Share the Harvest is to doing so. They all discuss what it means to them as hunters to donate to this incredible program. "Hunters have traditionally been providers for their community. Through Share the Harvest, this continues. Hunters are able to share the bounty of wild game with those who might go hungry otherwise. It's an incredible opportunity to make a positive impact on society. I hope you will join me and donate to Share the Harvest this fall," said Brandon Butler, CFM Executive Director. Thousands of Missouri deer hunters donated more than 289,200 pounds of venison to the program last deer season - including nearly 5,600 whole white-tailed deer. Since the program was started in 1992, Share the Harvest has provided nearly 4-million pounds of venison. That equates to millions and millions of meals served on plates of fellow Missourians. For much more information on Share the Harvest and great conversation about what the program means to both hunters and recipients of the meat, check out this episode of the podcast.

If you drive a gas-powered vehicle, then chances are you’re buying a lot of something you know little about – ethanol. Unleaded gasoline in Missouri, with a few exceptions, is an E10 blend. That means it’s 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent unleaded gasoline. The Conservation Federation has been partnering with the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council for over four years now. Row crop farmers across Missouri care about the lands they own and work, and we appreciate all they do to support wildlife on those lands. In this episode of Conservation Federation Podcast, Brandon Butler sits down with Bradley Schad of the Missouri Corn Growers and Steve Murphy of POET Biorefining to talk about corn and the production of ethanol. Formed in 1984, the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council is an organization of corn growers dedicated to developing and expanding corn markets, educating growers and customers and exploring new research opportunities. POET Biorefining is one of the world’s largest producers of ethanol and other biorefined products. Their mission is to mission is to be good stewards of the Earth by converting renewable resources to energy and other valuable goods as effectively as humanly possible. POET has two Missouri plants – Laddonia and Macon. They employee nearly 100 people.

Brandon Butler interviews MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley

Brandon Butler interviews Chris Kossmeyer and Steve Jones regarding Missouri Hunters For Fair Chase. This is a new organization formed to protect the wild deer of Missouri. Learn about their initiative petition.

Brandon Butler interviews Mark Van Patten. Mark was a long time employee of the Missouri Department of Conservation and was very instrumental in the creation of Stream Teams here in Missouri.

Brandon Butler, Executive Director of Conservation Federation of Missouri, interviews Governor Nixon about conservation and natural resources.