A love for hunting is what drew Harold Bickner to Ducks Unlimited, but it was DU's conservation work that got him involved on a state level. Bickner accepted the group's state chairmanship at the South Dakota DU convention this past weekend in Mitchell.

"Conservation has become very important to me, and Ducks Unlimited does it better than anybody else," Bickner said. "The commitment and expertise of the staff is heads above everybody else."

The Kimball electrical contractor grew up hunting with his father and today enjoys hunting with his family. "Both of my kids hunt, as do my brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews," he said.

Bickner has served South Dakota Ducks Unlimited in a number positions, including as treasurer, co-chair, and chairman of the Chamberlain Area DU committee. He has been a member of the state convention committee since 2013. Harold was the mayor of Kimball for six years and is serving in his 12th year as a councilman.

"My hope for DU's work in South Dakota is to conserve as much habitat as possible," he said, "and that starts with raising money."

Bickner is himself a major sponsor for Ducks Unlimited, and in his new position he will be leading other South Dakota volunteers in fundraising for DU's conservation work.