Having so many youngsters participate in the annual banquet and awards night of the River Ridge branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation is proof that the mission is working to ensure that “our wildlife legacy” continues, said Kathy Thomas, branch president.

            Attending the awards night were 140 adults and 34 children (12 years and under).

            Each year, the branch provides prizes for all the young members attending as a means of promoting the SWF ideals, Thomas said. This year, Brent Danylko, a member who owns B.D. Baits, donated 42 rods and reels as prizes for the youth. In a symbolic gesture to express their appreciation, the youth crowded around Danylko and gave him a group hug.

            The branch receives wonderful support from its membership and from the business community as is evidenced by the long list of donors for the prize tables, said Thomas. It takes that kind of support to makesthe annual awards night and banquet the main fundraising event for the branch. It is that fundraising that enables the branch to donate heavily to the branch’s two main priorities – wildlife habitat and local youth programs.

            With the recent addition of an annual gun show, River Ridge will be able to donate even more to both of these priorities, she said. During the recent provincial SWF convention, River Ridge was recognized for surpassing the milestone of donating $40,000 for wildlife habitat.

            During that same convention, Thomas received the Clayton Young Memorial award which recognizes individuals whose lifetime volunteerism has had a profound positive influence towards fulfilling the federation’s mission statement “to ensure the wildlife legacy we leave to our children surpasses that which we inherited,” said Robin Ludba, a member who attended the convention. This award is presented annually to one individual from each of the SWF’s six regions.

            Ludba introduced Shayla Strelioff who received a $500 scholarship from the branch to assist her with her environmental studies in a Prince Albert post-secondary institution.

            The award for the Junior Sportsperson of the Year, sponsored by the Gebbard family, was presented to Kailey Sleeva, in recognition of the awards she received in the junior fishing categories.

            The member recognition award was presented to Lee-Ann Butterfield. In making the presentation, Thomas noted that Butterfield always volunteers for the tasks that make the branch run so smoothly, especially when preparing for major events such as the annual awards banquet. “She has a huge heart for wildlife.”

Award presentations

            Recognizing the most successful hunters and fishermen is the main purpose of the annual awards banquet. Robin Ludba headed the committee which was in charge of identifying the award recipients.

            Thomas asked the audience to take note of the number of women receiving awards, saying that the SWF recognizes that women are playing an ever-increasing role in the SWF mission.

Big game

            Haley Tratch won the women’s white-tailed deer award for an entry that measured 150 6/8 inches.

There were no entries in the white-tailed deer archery or the white-tailed deer muzzleloader categories.

Logan Danylko won the junior white-tailed deer award for an entry that measured 105 3/8 inches.

Ken Wosminity won the typical white-tailed deer award for an entry that measured 164 3/8 inches.

There were no entries for the non-typical white-tailed deer award.

Don Kraynick won the typical mule deer award for an entry that measured 174 2/8 inches.

There were no entries for the non-typical mule deer award or for the antelope award.

Haley Tratch won the award for bear and Wayne Tratch won the award for archery bear.

Logan Danylko won the elk award with an entry that measured 158 3/8 inches.

Ray Danylko won the moose award for an entry that measured 119 6/8 inches.

Reg Zackrisson won the archery moose award for an entry that measured 164 inches.

With 65 points, Haley Tratch won the big game aggregate award.

Birds

            Dustin Perepeluk won the ruffed grouse award for an entry that weighed one pound and 5.5 ounces.

            There were no entries for the awards for goose, duck or sharptail grouse.

Fish

Reg Zackrisson won the lake trout catch-and-release award for an entry that measured 48 inches. He also won the walleye aggregate award (34.77 pounds). He won the catch-and-release award for northern pike (48 inches) and the walleye catch-and-release (33 inches).

There were no entries for the awards for rainbow trout, brook trout or burbot.

            Kailey Sleeva won the award for sauger catch-and-release with an entry that measured 13 inches. She also won the junior catch-and-release award (30 inches).

            Brent Danylko won the sturgeon catch-and-release award with a fish that measured 58 inches.

            Shayla Strelioff won the senior northern pike award for a fish that weighed 19 pounds, seven ouces.

            Sharon Ripa won the senior perch award for a fish that weighed 15.76 inches. She also won the women’s catch-and-release award for northern pike (37 inches).

            There were no entries in the senior walleye category, the junior northern pike award or the junior walleye award.

Nathan Matechuk won the junior perch award for a fish measuring 13.5 inches (one pound and six ounces).

Photography awards

            Damon Paley won the award for scenic photography while Lee-Ann Butterfield won for wildlife photography.

            Holly Danylko won the junior photography award.

Perogy award

            Wayne Tratch won the perogy award, which is also called the hard-luck trophy.

            This is not a coveted award, but does reflect the humorous side of stories in which the hunter or fisherman is not overly successful, said Ludba.

The meal

            For many, the main attraction of the annual event is the meal, said Thomas.

            This year, 11 members donated meat so that elk, moose and deer could be on the menu. The donors were: Neal Matechuk; Logan, Ray and Brent Danylko; Louis Zawislak; Sharon Ripa; Reg Zackrisson; Desiree Owchar; Brendon Holstein; Corey Tibbett; and Kathy Thomas.

Branch executive

            The executive officers of the River Ridge branch are: Kathy Thomas, president; Damon Paley, secretary; Doug Lapitsky, treasurer; Lee-Ann Butterfield, membership chairperson; and Doug Lapitsky, habitat chairperson.