Wes grew up in north-central Kansas, on a small quarter horse ranch and swine confinement operation. This rural upbringing was instrumental in fostering a great passion for rural America, our working landscapes, and the tradition of hunting and fishing which ultimately led to a career in wildlife conservation.
As Assistant Director of the Wildlife Division, Wes leads a team of 32 technical field staff who work directly with private landowners across the state to conserve and enhance wildlife resources and to provide opportunities for the use and appreciation of those resources. He manages several federal wildlife restoration grants, partnership agreements and conservation commitments; serves as the Farm Bill Coordinator for the agency and liaison to USDA in Kansas; and administers some of KDWP’s keystone programs including the Walk-In Hunting Access Program and Habitat First.
One of KDWP’s key objectives within the private lands section is to operate strategically in order to have the greatest beneficial impact on the wildlife resource with our limited funding. Our collaboration with PLJV supports this objective by providing the most critical science and communications necessary for our agency to be more targeted and effective. As a board member, Wes appreciates the ease of collaboration with great people on heavy-hitting, landscape-level, issues that affect us all.
Prior to his current position, Wes served as District Wildlife Biologist in Northwest Kansas out of Colby where he gained valuable exposure to playas, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), and valuable conservation tools designed and used by the JV partnership. He received his bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology from Fort Hays State University in 2008.