Laura McIver, Regional Representative for Quail Forever / Pheasants Forever, Retires

August 7, 2026 - Laura McIver's conservation journey began in 2005 with a small gathering of just a half-dozen people in Oklahoma City who wanted to establish a new chapter after Pheasants Forever announced the creation of Quail Forever.

As a volunteer, Laura helped organize the first Quail Forever chapter in Oklahoma and one of the first in the nation. She went on to serve as president of the Central Oklahoma Quail Forever Chapter for several years, leading conservation efforts and building support for wildlife habitat across the state.

During her years as a volunteer, Laura earned recognition from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for her fundraising efforts benefiting the state's Stars and Stripes Program, which provides hunting and fishing license assistance to military personnel. In 2012, she traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for conservation priorities during Farm Bill discussions with members of Congress.

Laura's dedication continued to gain national recognition in 2013 when she was selected as a finalist for Field & Stream magazine's Hero of Conservation Award. She again traveled to Washington, D.C., where she delivered a memorable speech at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center with Pheasants Forever leadership in attendance.

Shortly thereafter, Pheasants Forever hired Laura as the Regional Representative for Oklahoma. Her leadership quickly led to expanded responsibilities as she was tasked with growing the organization's presence in Texas. After successfully helping establish and strengthen chapters throughout the Lone Star State, Pheasants Forever added two regional representatives for Texas and reassigned Laura to serve Oklahoma and southern Kansas, a territory she continued to support until her retirement.

Throughout her professional career with Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever, Laura received numerous honors for her conservation leadership. In 2017, the National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative (NBCI) presented her with the Firebird Award for outstanding conservation efforts. Earlier this year, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation recognized Laura with its 2026 Conservation Heritage Award, celebrating her years of grassroots conservation leadership. The ceremony was attended by U.S. Senator James Lankford, Blake and Gwen Shelton, and former longtime Oklahoma Wildlife Commissioner John D. Groendyke.

Although Laura is retiring from her role on August 7, her commitment to conservation remains as strong as ever. Conservation is not simply a career—it is a lifelong calling. In retirement, Laura looks forward to spending more time with her family and exploring the fields of Oklahoma alongside her beloved pack of Brittany Spaniels, keeping an eye on the state's iconic bobwhite quail—the species that first inspired a journey that became a remarkable and rewarding career.

Quail Forever, Pheasants Forever, and the countless volunteers, partners, and landowners Laura has worked alongside congratulate her on an extraordinary career and thank her for more than two decades of unwavering dedication to wildlife conservation. Her legacy will continue to be reflected in healthier habitats, stronger conservation partnerships, and the many people she inspired to become stewards of the land.