Website photos courtesy of local host teams.

About The Organization

​The Conservation Enhancement Fund (“CEF”), is a Kansas not-for-profit corporation, organized for charitable, educational and scientific purposes and to assist the Midwest states in planning and hosting the annual Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference (“Conference”), a scientific/educational conference hosted on a rotating basis by state members of Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The current rotation schedule for the Conference is as follows beginning in 2026: Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and Missouri.
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​Officers:

•    Shannon Lott (MI), President
•    Chris Kennedy (KS), First Vice President
•    Kelly Straka (MN), Second Vice President
•    Pete Hildreth (IA), Past President
•    Kendra Wecker (OH), Member
•    Tim McCoy (NE), Member
•    Jason Sumners (MO), Member

About The Conference

The conference attracts up to 1,000 biologists and students from state, federal, and tribal natural resources agencies and universities from the Midwest, Great Plains and Canadian provinces for the purposes of sharing technical presentations, poster displays, plenary sessions, and networking opportunities for wildlife professionals. Attendees include professionals in the field of fisheries and wildlife, including; directors, assistant directors, program managers, wildlife and fisheries biologists, as well as college students.

Save the Date!

The 87th Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference will be held February 7 - 10, 2027 at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Please mark your calendars and make plans to join us!

CONFERENCE THEME: Charting the Course: Navigating Future Challenges in Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Coming soon! 

• Sponsor and exhibitor registration will open in June. 
• Organized symposium proposals will be accepted in July. 
• Presentation abstracts will be accepted in August. 
• Attendee registration will open in November.