Wildlife Habitat and More (WHAM)

About four years ago, a number of committee members in the Centerville Ducks Unlimited chapter started discussing the idea of a local wildlife organization. Our idea was to create a local group that would help our local wildlife with food plots and habitat. Our goal was to create an environment for our youth to enjoy the wildlife like we had enjoyed when we grew up and to address our declining pheasant population. After kicking the idea around for a few weeks, we met and voted to dissolve our Ducks chapter and start a Wildlife group that benefited all wildlife. After a few meetings, Wildlife Habitat and More (WHAM) was created. We held a kick off banquet in the spring of 2006. The response to our new group was nothing short of phenomenal.

Since our conception, WHAM has purchased 6 acres of land west of Centerville to use as a game preserve consisting of food plots and native grass. We also bought a new New Holland tt50 tractor, a new Great Plains no till drill, a new Bushhog mower and a trailer to haul them on. Last year WHAM seeded over 40 acres of various food plots and CRP grass on private lands around our area and has purchased and released pheasants each year. Also in 2006, we were contacted by the Game Fish and Parks Department about getting involved in an 'Adopt a GFP Area' program. This program enables a group such as ours to assist the GFP in maintaining a selected area, such as the planting of food plots and mowing of the area, along with general upkeep. We met with Game Fish and Parks officials and decided to join this program and agreed to adopt the Cunningham Game preserve southwest of Centerville, South Dakota.

WHAM also is involved in several civic activities such as delivering Meals on Wheels the past two Februarys and have been substitute deliverers throughout the year. We also participate in Centerville's annual Christmas Parade of Lights and the local fall volunteer clean up days.

WHAM has joined the South Dakota Wildlife Coalition, a group that works to support increase in federal funding for wildlife conservation. As a result of strong community support and excellent participation from volunteers, WHAM is a very successful organization.