Kerrobert wildlife group holds annual supper

Kenneth Brown
of The Crossroads

There was a lot of protein being served up at the annual wildlife federation supper in Kerrobert and no one at the event is likely to have gone home hungry.

The Kerrobert and District Wildlife Federation held its supper and awards banquet on Jan. 19 at the Prairieland Community Centre. A snowstorm kept a few ticket holders away, but about 280 people were at the community centre for the federation’s big annual fundraiser.

The event included a tasty supper featuring wild meat from big game, fundraising activities, award presentations, door prizes and short speeches. The fundraising activities included a silent auction, raffle tables, card draw and a 50/50 draw.

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There was no shortage of food options for supper, but most of them were non-vegetarian options. Along with salads and vegetables, the menu included bear meatballs, Northern Pike fish, deer cutlets, deer sausage, ginger deer, pulled goose, elk roast, elk taco salad, honey lemon elk and cured bear roast.

Members of the wildlife federation and an army of volunteers helped to prepare, cook and serve the food, and to clean up afterward. Quinton St. Pierre and Wes Ternes shared the duties for master of ceremonies for the event, and they welcomed people to another supper.

“This is our 37th supper, so that in itself is a big deal,” St. Pierre said moments before supper was served, recognizing that he wanted to give thanks to the volunteers and sponsors. “It takes a lot of work and energy to put this event on.”

Organizers had placed two envelopes under tables – one under a table on the main floor and one under a table on the mezzanine level – and the tables won prizes. One of the winners had first pick of the prizes, and the other winning table got to eat first in addition to getting a prize.

After supper, St. Pierre spoke about the different fundraising activities on tap for the evening. Ternes, the co-host for the event, thanked all of the people for attending the supper before he recognized a list of event sponsors and supporters.

Ternes introduced special guest Jim Vancha of Biggar, the Region 5 director for the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF), and the director brought greetings on behalf of the SWF. He thanked the Kerrobert and District Wildlife Federation for having him and his wife attend.

“I’d like to thank all of you for coming and continuing to support the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation and each of your local branches,” Vancha said. “It’s very important that you do that because a lot of projects are on the go.”

The Region 5 director said the federation’s annual meeting is scheduled for Feb. 14 to 16 in Moose Jaw and he encouraged members to attend. He noted that the annual meeting features a variety of excellent speakers. He also mentioned the Henry Kelsey Big Game Records awards event on April 13 in Macklin.

Vancha said one of the featured awards to be presented in Macklin this year is for a non-typical mule deer whose horns were scored at 290 1/8, and “that’s going to put Saskatchewan on the map again for mule deer.”

He said the SWF has been working on a game and management plan for about the past five to six years, and the federation was fortunate to get the plan moved forward in Regina. The plan was adopted into legislation in the 2018 spring sitting for the provincial government, he added.

Wildlife federation branches hand out awards to members each year for the animals they have harvested. The awards are based on the weight or features such as horns of the animals. St. Pierre said the federation was still waiting for some of the winners’ plaques to arrive, but all award winners would be announced during the event.

Rob Cholin, president of the Kerrobert and District Wildlife Federation, said in an interview after the event that the weather was not nice on the day of the event, but the event sold out and most of the ticket holders were able to attend.

He noted that the federation’s honourary president, Joey Phillips, looks forward to the event each year and he does a lot to help out with food preparation. Cholin said the organizers still had numbers to crunch before the fundraising total will be known, but it should be another successful event for the federation.

“We’re looking to be comparable to years past as far as monetary support goes,” the president said, recognizing that the money raised at the supper should allow the federation to meet its commitments for the year.

The federation looks after a fish pond located just northeast of Kerrobert. Cholin said the group has to purchase a new lawn mower, make repairs to the dock at the fish pond and stock the pond with trout. He added that he wanted to thank all of the surrounding communities for their ongoing support.

Award winners

• John Shepherd – Typical Antelope – 71 0/8

• Bonnie Pangman – Typical Ladies Moose – 147 2/8

• Luke Alberts – Walleye – 14 lbs, 2 oz.

• Caitlynn Alberts – Rainbow Trout – 6 lbs, 2 oz.

• Bronc Johnson – Jr. Boy Rainbow Trout – 3 lbs, 6 oz.

• Dawson Johnson – Jr. Girl Rainbow Trout – 3 lbs

• Ty Eagles – Jr. Canada Goose – 13 lbs, 6 oz.

• Quinn St. Pierre – 1st Deer, Junior Mule Deer (Doe)

• Kyle Johnson – Typical Whitetail Deer – 143 4/8

• Rebecca McAndrew – Ladies Typical Whitetail Deer – 118 7/8

• Landon Schell – Jr. Typical Whitetail Deer – 131 0/8

• Calvin Kohlman – Non-Typical Mule Deer (Archery) – 202 6/8

• Jaden Thiessen – Non-Typical Mule Deer – 154 4/8

• John Schan – Typical Mule Deer – 169 5/8

• Jen Shepherd – Ladies Typical Mule Deer – 133 7/8

• Quinton Cholin – Jr. Typical Mule Deer – 121 2/8

• Luke Alberts – Bear (Muzzle Loader) – 17 4/16

• Brent Zerr – Typical Elk – 299 6/8.

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