[4] Dennis Anderson, outdoor editor for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch, wrote an article on March 7, 1982, regarding the state of grassland habitat in Minnesota.

Over 800 people attended, including famed waterfowler and outdoors writer Jimmy Robinson, who presented two $1,000 checks to the organization, one from him and one from Robert Naegele Sr.[6] The keynote speaker at the inaugural Pheasants Forever banquet was the governor of Minnesota, Rudy Perpich, who later signed the state's first pheasant stamp bill.

[6] Pheasants Forever uses a grassroots system of fundraising and project development that allows members to see the direct result of their contributions.

The grassroots conservation campaign was formed by the organization with the goal of raising $25 million in planned gifts, estate, bequests and other donations.

The objective of the campaign is to accelerate the organization's ability to conserve and enhance North America/North America's wildlife resources as well as Americans' hunting traditions.