Courtesy Photo
Kris Burke won the coveted Mad Hatter’s drawing winner and had the choice of a gun safe and mystery handgun, Blackstone grill or a Milwaukee tool set. He chose the safe and handgun.
Courtesy Photo
Chapter member and NYLC board member Carter Leibbrandt, left, is with Destry Russell, winner of the youth mentor hunt’s over and under shotgun donated by Ag Solutions.
Annual PF banquet draws crowd of 200
Saturday night was a hint that a return to normalcy may not be far off as the Southwestern Nebraska Pheasants Forever chapter hosted its 31st annual banquet.
A steak dinner was served at the Chase County fairgrounds to 200 in attendance for the dinner, auctions and other events.
Highlights of the evening were the auctions and drawings for a number of prints and other prizes.
Heather Francis, president of the local chapter, expressed appreciation to the sponsors, donors, underwriters and communities in southwest Nebraska.
“We are grateful and humbled by the continued support. Thanks to all the new sponsors and donors,” she said.
“It’s encouraging to know people want to know more about wildlife habitat, pollinators, conservation stewardship and getting more people involved in the outdoors,” she said.
Carter Leibbrandt of Imperial, a Nebraska member on the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) spoke about the organization and his selection of the youth mentor hunt as his local project.
Six of the 18 youths at Saturday’s banquet participated in the chapter’s youth mentor hunt last October. Those attending were Evan Tomky, Destry Russell, Sean Leak, Eric Gonzalez, Wyatt Krausnick and Kris Burke.
Francis provided a list of some of the winners:
Sponsor awards—PF Print of the Year: Rob-See-Co, Dave Oxford. Sponsor Knife: Rite- Rate.
Youth lifetime hunt permit winners—Edisyn Teply, Ethan Gonzalez, Jason Nelson.
Gun winners—Kris Burke, Destry and Derek Russell, Derek Malcolm of North Platte, Jan Elliott, Travis Wheeler, Jessica Teeter.
Pick of the Litter—Ashlin Bussell chose “Mark’s Boot,” by Armando Villarreal Studios.
Veteran’s and first responder’s award was a wood flag made by Eric Gonzalez and won by Armando Villarreal.
Nebraska’s National Youth Leadership Council winner— Markenna Terryberry.
Destry Russell won the over and under youth shotgun donated by Ag Solutions (Pete Dillan).