At its annual meeting in February 2023, the Iowa DNR Wildlife Bureau recognized the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) and its Midwest Regional Representative Bill Moritz for WMI’s support of the Iowa Wildlife Bureau’s recruitment of young natural resource professionals. In 2018, the two organizations began a relationship to hire limited term employees to meet private land forestry management needs. Since then, the partnership has hired several people into these positions, with all hires eventually moving into permanent positions either in the Iowa DNR Wildlife Bureau or with other organizations.

The limited term positions create an opportunity for new hires to hone communication skills with private landowners, develop forest management plans, and, when those plans are implemented, impact forest management on these areas for the next 100 years. Because the positions are year-round rather than a shorter seasonal position, a greater depth of experience is gained. The outcome is candidates for permanent positions that are highly sought after by agencies and other organization.

The Iowa/WMI partnership was expanded to include public land foresters and wildlife researchers, and most recently a pilot effort with Iowa Fisheries Bureau. WMI is very pleased with the partnership and grateful for the recognition of the success of this program.