Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation holds another successful banquet

The Sanders County chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation entertained a “sellout crowd” Saturday at their 18th annual banquet at the Sanders County Fair pavilion in Plains. The foundation’s banquet featured a live auction, silent auction, door prizes, raffles, dinner and beverages in their main fundraiser for the year.

Banquet committee chairperson Linda Wilson said the crowd of 184 attendees Saturday was about the maximum that the banquet can accommodate. She said she was thrilled of the turnout after initially being concerned the banquet would have less success because of the economy being down. Wilson said the Elk Foundation netted more than $20,000 in raised funds Saturday night.

Wilson said there were people in attendance at the banquet from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Canada, and South Carolina. She said she thought South Carolina was close to the farthest anyone has ever traveled from for the Sanders County banquet and she said they enjoyed it.

“They’re coming again next year because they had such a good time,” Wilson said.

The meal, prepared by Kootenai Catering from Libby, was made up of sweet and sour meatballs, glazed hams, roast beef, salads, and bread. The junior class from Plains High School helped at the banquet by working in the kitchen and helping to model auction items.

Bambi Erving and Thad LeClair carried auction items around the room for people to view as they bid on them. Kevin Hill from Corvallis, who donates his auctioneer services to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for their banquet each year, ran the live auction.

More than 80 contributors from six Sanders County communities — and some from out of county — donated the auction items and prizes for the banquet. The first winner of the night was Randy Hagedorn who won the Card Raffle and then later won the Pick of the Herd drawing. For the Pick of the Herd drawing Hagedorn chose from the auction items an elk sculpture —“Headed High.”

One of the highlights of the evenings came when longtime committee member Charlie Gray took on some of the modeling duties during the live auction. Gray donned a camouflage nighty in place of his shirt and carried around a bottle of “Hot Sex” liquor and an envelope in which was a certificate for a one-night’s stay at Sex Peak Lookout.

Wilson later said she thought Gray’s antics were hysterical and noted how his popularity among the people at the banquet helps to build up excitement and encourage bidding.

Some guests Saturday included the regional director for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Jory Dellinger from Missoula and Jenna Wold. Wold, from Kalispell, was recently named the Morgan R. Funk Youth Volunteer Award Recipient and she sang the National Anthem to open Saturday’s banquet.

One of the more impressive auction items was the 2008 Big Game Banquet Edition Rifle, a Marlin 1895XLR in .45/70 caliber. Committee member Greg Wilson noted how nice the rifle was and that it showed by going for $1900 during the live auction.

Wilson said the accomplishment of the banquet Saturday is a testament to the “phenomenal” job past committee chairs have done in putting on the banquet. He said this year when his wife Linda took the reigns the banquet continued its successful ways.

“My wife, God bless her, volunteered to help out,” Wilson said. “I thought it went really well. This was a good one.”

The other Committee members who contributed to the banquet Saturday were Donna Gray Joyce Dougan, Coleen Magera, Rich Magera, Jan Mershon, Jim Mershon, Kathleen Miller, Dave Oliver, Ian Taylor, Jane Taylor, Deborah Warren, and Tiffany Wilson. Oliver served as the master of ceremonies for the banquet.

Linda Wilson said the assistance she had from the committee is what allowed the banquet to go smoothly. She said more people came forward at the banquet Saturday expressing interest in joining next year’s committee.

“I had so much incredible, wonderful help that it went without a glitch,” said Wilson, who was awarded a plaque for her work with the banquet. “It takes a long time, but it’s well worth it.”