Food and fun for Ducks Unlimited
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Spectators eagerly waiting to find where the duck was going to poop.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN There were many items for people to win which made for happy attendees.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Robert Yoder won this firearm, the first to be given away of the night. at the Duck Drop.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN People enjoyed dinner during the Ducks Unlimited fundraiser.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Springs Restaurant cook, Shawn Cromwell, and Banquet Manager, Robert Escarcega.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN The Duke’s Claybusters helped with the Ducks Unlimited event.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN The very impostant duck at the event.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Ducks Unlimited Regional Director Mond Warren recognizing Kootenai Valley Ducks Unlimited Committee Chairperson Susan Gutknecht.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN The popular Heads and Tails game being played by the kids.
BONNERS FERRY — Ducks Unlimited held its annual fundraising event, a catered dinner and auction, at the Boundary County Fairgrounds Memorial Hall on Friday, Oct. 25. In addition to the auction, there were raffles, door prizes, games, and the ever popular Duck Drop.
From silent auctions to live auctions, people generously bid, with the proceeds going toward wetland and waterfowl conservation.
“The hottest live auction item this year was a bench made to look like the tailgate of a truck, and it includes the Ducks Unlimited logo,” said Kootenai Valley Ducks Unlimited Committee Chairperson Susan Gutknecht. “It was won by Jeremy and Rachel Hill.”
When it came time to for people to anxiously stand around — waiting for a duck to poop and hoping it was on their number — the crowd eagerly encouraged the waterfowl. Where the duck chose to poop determined the winner of a brand new gun. It did not take long for the duck to choose and Robert Yoder emerged victorious.
All together, 15 guns were available as game prizes, silent auction items, Ducks Unlimited Sponsor drawings, as well as other drawings.
“The ladies table prize this year was a purple .22 pistol,” said Gutknecht. “It was a popular item.”
The raffle tables were filled with a wide array of items, many docated by local businesses. People purchased raffle ticket books and dropped them in the waiting green buckets.
The dinner was catered by the Springs Restaurant of the Kootenai River Inn, who set up a multi-line buffet, brimming with food, making the line flow quickly.
“In addition to prime rib, the Kootenai River Inn served Potlatch salmon which was a huge hit,” said Gutknecht.
Nine high school students from Duke’s Claybusters student trap club helped set up the event, ran the games for the greenwings (which are kids younger than 18), paraded auction items, and even stayed afterward to help clean up.
“They are a great group of kids and their help was invaluable,” said Gutknecht.
The evening was filled with people “talking duck,” feasting on dinner, playing games, entering raffles, and bidding on their favorite items — showcasing the dedicated following of Ducks Unlimited members in Boundary County.
“We had several new faces this year, as well as many faithful attendees from previous banquets,” said Gutknecht.
For more information about Ducks Unlimited: www.ducks.org