An Innovator Of The Land

Joe Foster, the Idaho NWTF State Chapter president and the president of the Southeast Idaho Chapter, has created a wildlife mecca on his Idaho farm, and that is only the beginning to his conservation impact. While he has served on various national committees with the NWTF in addition to his local and state duties, he has also found numerous ways to educate others about wildlife habitat and wild turkeys.

From establishing a tree yard on his farm to working to provide habitat trailers and on-site education seminars, Foster’s farm has become a complete education center since he bought the land a decade ago.

“Most people say, ‘someday,’ … I decided not to wait around until then,” Foster said.

After purchasing the property, Foster also went to work making habitat improvements. He said local wildlife, including wild turkeys, use the upper parts of the mountains in southeast Idaho from the spring into the late fall or early winter. Once the snow starts to accumulate in the higher elevations, they migrate down the mountain, sometimes ending up in suburban areas where they can cause issues. His plan was to enhance the area between the mountainous zones and the lower suburban areas for wildlife, but it was met with setbacks initially.

There had not been much success in transplanting suitable trees, like cottonwoods, in the area, and he and others set out to solve the issue. In the end, his farm is home to a tree yard that produces over 500 trees per year to be transplanted. Having the trees start their growth in the area so they become acclimated, as well as the implementation of an innovative watering system has taken the transplant survival rate from a mere 20% to 80%. That improvement alone provides roosting trees and other benefits to the middle wintering area of the mountains, helping keep wildlife in suitable habitat throughout the year.

Foster also developed the Wild About Turkeys education program to help spread information about wild turkeys. Because the program was so successful, it has since been adopted as a national education platform by the NWTF ― educating and empowering teachers, who in turn are able to use the information in their classrooms.

Foster is also an accomplished photographer. Because he has made such improvements to his farm, he now has great opportunities to watch all sorts of wildlife, particularly wild turkeys.

“I watch them every day,” Foster said. “I don’t do it for money; I do it just for fun.”

Many of his photos have appeared in NWTF publications, and Idaho has used his photos in their wild turkey management plan book as well. Part of the enjoyment includes hunting, but Foster said he only hunts public land instead of hunting his own farm.

Whether it is learning how to plant a tree so it will survive, getting information about wildlife out to the public, habitat work or hosting educators on his farm, Foster enjoys sharing his knowledge with others.

“Basically, I get involved in a lot of stuff,” Foster joked.

And his list of “stuff” continues to grow with each passing season.

“I think the thing I’m most proud of is that it’s not just one thing [that I’m focused on],” Foster said of his various endeavors.

Foster was honored at the 47th annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show in Nashville with the Innovation Award, which recognizes volunteers or staff who have developed exceptionally creative strategies and novel approaches that encourage positive impacts to conservation, outreach, education, membership and/or fundraising.