October 2024

In 1800, roughly 95% of the citizens in the U.S. lived in rural America. Just over 200 years later, in 2020 that percentage declined by 75% to just 1 in 5 U.S. citizens living in rural locations with the balance, 80%, living in cities. At face value, that seems like it may actually help conservation and wildlife management by virtue of concentrating the impacts of significant population growth to fewer larger areas instead of incurring widespread impacts of development and the associated infrastructure. However, behind the scenes of America’s significant population growth and subsequent growing urbanization is a significant challenge for conservation, a population increasingly disconnected from the natural world.

The Farm Bill has once again expired, as a yearlong extension of the massive agricultural spending package ended on September 30 without congressional action. The delay affects some of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s farm conservation and trade promotion programs while additional disruptions will begin on January 1 if action doesn’t occur during the lame duck session. The House and Senate are slated to resume work in Washington on November 12, commencing a lame duck session that includes five scheduled weeks of session before both chambers depart for the Christmas holiday.

Besides being a dad and a husband, my most consequential job was serving as a member of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission. My term didn’t last long; my appointment wasn’t confirmed by the state’s Senate, but during the time I served, I happily accepted the weight and responsibility of the unpaid position.

In Mississippi the only requirements to be considered as a fish-and-game commissioner are to have bought a hunting or fishing license for five of the past 10 years and to have no fish-and-game violations within the past five years.