The American Horse Council's Legislative Director Ben Pendergrass participated in the April 16 White House Conference on America's Great Outdoors held at the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The conference focused on the challenges, opportunities, and innovations surrounding modern-day land conservation and the importance of reconnecting Americans and American families to the outdoors. Conservation and outdoor recreation leaders from around the country were invited to attend the conference.

President Obama delivered remarks to the conference and signed a Presidential Memorandum establishing the America's Great Outdoors Initiative. The goals of the Initiative will be to 1) reconnect Americans with the outdoors by promoting community-based recreation and conservation, advance job and volunteer opportunities related to conservation and recreation, and educate individuals in America's history, culture, and natural beauty; 2) build upon state, local, private, and tribal priorities for the conservation of land, water, wildlife, historic, and cultural resources; and 3) use science-based management practices to restore and protect America's lands and waters.

Panel discussions focused on the importance of America's private working lands like farms, ranches, and working forest, as well as conserving and connecting Americans with the country's public lands