Sportsman banquet is Saturday, Feb. 26

THOMSON — The Sportsman’s Banquet will be held on Saturday, Feb. 26 at Majestic Pines in Thomson.

Organizers have made raising money for local conservation activities. The midwinter Sportsman’s Banquet is hosted by the Mississippi Flyway chapter of Waterfowl USA and is aimed at returning the money raised to local wetland conservation.

This year’s banquet will have items of interest for deer hunters, duck hunters, and coyote hunters. The chapter encourages hunting families to attend the banquet and sets up games for the kids to play to win items. A raffle will also be held.

“Hunting families will enjoy the banquet as kids will receive decoys and a chance to win hunting guns. What drives the banquet is the members themselves. Many generous sportsmen and members of the conservation group donated extra towards the kids raffles. As many as 7 youth guns will be awarded to young hunters on Saturday night. Also, the very young will get a chance to win BB guns,” said volunteer Ron Kaufman.

Adam Johnson from Miles, Iowa has volunteered to auction during the event where wildlife art, barn wood art, figurines, decorative decoys and sporting goods will be sold. A black lab female pup from Barn Ridge Kennel will be on Adam’s list to sell at the banquet.

“The AKC lab will make someone a pet and hunter and comes from good bloodlines. To welcome our guest Eric Engaldo will serve as the emcee for the event. Eric is a fellow waterfowler and will add a lot of excitement to the night. The banquet doors open at 5:00 and organizers have lowered price this year to help keep the banquet affordable,” Kaufman said.

The banquet doors open at 5 p.m. and organizers have lowered price this year to help keep the banquet affordable.

For help with the banquet or for more information, please call Ron Kaufman at Waterfowl USA at 309-887-4390 or send an email to ronkaufman1@msn.com. Money raised goes to wetland conservation in the area.