My name is Derek Jacobs. I am from Rugby, North Dakota and a sophomore at Valley City State University in the Fisheries and Wildlife program. Growing up in the outdoors and constantly experiencing the beauty of the natural world has taught me many valuable lessons. The beauty and rarities of nature are the driving force behind my enthusiasm for conservation.
I inherited my parents’ love and passion for the outdoors. Both of my parents are members of the Fisheries and Wildlife field and have spent time working for the U.S Fish and Wildlife service. I grew up around experienced and knowledgeable people who taught me everything they could about the outdoors from the moment my eyes opened. They are the reason I am here at VCSU learning as much as I can to carry on their legacy.
I am attending this trip because I hope to gain valuable experience. I will take advantage of the knowledge offered to me by Professor Williams as well as the professionals we will meet in Texas. Experiencing a completely different ecosystem compared to North Dakota’s and learning the methods professionals use to manage that ecosystem would allow for whole new perspective on my understanding of conservation strategies. Experiencing all the wildlife I have never seen before and how they fit into those ecosystems will be a highly valuable resource. I know that by attending this trip I will learn more about the natural environment than I am anticipating.