ND FFA Foundation
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students in North Dakota"
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Philip J. Mittleider-Wildlife
Production & Management Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award Winner Because farmers were having trouble with gophers taking
over their ditches, pastures, and sometimes their lawns; Philip started trapping
the gophers. Philip said, “I saw an opportunity to help reduce the number of
gophers and preserve crops and pasture land for my family, friends and
community, while also making some profit. I
was fortunate enough that my dad trapped gophers, and I was able to get
equipment by exchanging labor for materials.” Philip helped his dad on the
farm in exchange for the equipment. When first starting, Philip had some goals he set which
included helping preserve the crops and pasture land in his community and
reducing the gopher population safely and efficiently without damaging the
natural habitat. The neighboring farmers have discussed with Philip their belief
that the gopher problem has decreased significantly. Philip also set a goal to have a high catch rate, where he
would catch nine gophers for every ten traps he sets. This would help him to
reach another goal of catching 200 gophers in one trapping season. As for his
educational goals, he plans to teach other people how to trap gophers and his
ultimate goal is to reduce the number of gophers in his community while making a
profit. The Wildlife Production & Management Entrepreneurship Proficiency awards are sponsored by the ND Wildlife Federation. |
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Ths
page is sponsored by the ND Grain Growers Association