Ducks Unlimited honors volunteer

Ducks Unlimited recently dedicated the seventh Arkansas Legacy Greenwing project at Homefield, Saskatchewan, to Keith Futrell of Pocahontas.

Futrell started volunteering with DU at 18, and has done so for more than 35 years, during which time he has become known for his work with DU’s youth programs.

Futrell also serves on the national Youth and Education Committee. He became personally involved in the Arkansas Varsity Camp when his own son attended at age 15. He’ll have been serving as a counselor for the camp 15 years in 2018.

The Saskatchewan prairie project is part of one of the most productive waterfowl areas of North America – the Touchwood Hills. The 160-acre property was purchased in 1998. The tame grass uplands have been managed as idled nesting cover most of the past 17 years with periodic haying. The remainder of the habitat was left idle to be managed for waterfowl habitat in perpetuity. The area supports waterfowl densities in excess of 40 pairs per square mile. Adding to the value of this project is the high wetland density in the surrounding area and its proximity to several other DU projects.

Arkansas Ducks Unlimited raised $20,000 through Legacy Greenwing memberships. The funding was used as match to secure a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant.

The Legacy Greenwing program is a bridge between Ducks Unlimited’s habitat conservation and youth programs. It is open to youths up to age 21 for a onetime contribution of $200. Legacy Greenwing membership funds are dedicated to a waterfowl habitat project, and each child’s name is placed on a sign at the project site. This membership forever links these children to DU’s mission of waterfowl habitat conservation.