Central Wisconsin
Prairie Chicken Festival
"A Celebration of Grasslands"
April 16-18, 2010

In 2006, the Central Wisconsin Prairie Chicken Festival (PC Fest) began on a whim and a shoestring budget. The idea was to bring awareness to the Central Wisconsin Grasslands and its prize inhabitant
- the Greater Prairie-chicken (GPC).

The GPC of Wisconsin is considered the most researched grouse species in the United States. Yet, like many grassland species nationwide, it's numbers are declining. It is estimated that there were only 1,000 GPC in Wisconsin in 2008, down from 2,500 in 1950 and 55,000 in 1930. Habitat loss due to increasing residential development, conversion of pasture lands to row crops or upland cranberries, tree planting, and more are the cause. Hunting GPC in Wisconsin was banned in 1955.

Hence, the objectives for the PC Fest are to provide:
Historical perspective of the GPC
Opportunities to observe the GPC and other grassland species
Educational experiences for all ages
Forum to explain federal, state, and county programs that enhance grasslands
Benefits of rotational grazing and other conservation practices for farmers and other dedicated private landowners

Click Here for the full PC Fest history.

Hosted By:
	Golden Sands Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc. 1462 Strongs Avenue Stevens Point, WI 54481