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Stearns County Pheasants Forever - with support from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District - applied for the grant in August. The grant was open to applicants across 11 western and midwestern states.

Stearns County Pheasant Forever's grant proposal was one of 11 environmental partnershipsfunded by the Xcel Energy Foundation this year, totaling about $125,000.

Xcel Energy presented the check to Stearns County Pheasants Forever last week at the Zion Wildlife Management Area, which is located on Co. Rd. 33 in Zion Township between Paynesville and St. Martin.

"Stearns County Pheasants Forever is honored to have been selected by the Xcel Energy Foundation for this grant," said Brad Cobb, chapter president. "The Zion WMA has been a high priority for restoration by the Minnesota DNR for several years, and we are happy to help make that a reality."

Pheasants Forever is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, and education.

Headquartered in St. Paul, Pheasants Forever has more than 100,000 members in over 600 local chapters across the United States and Canada.