It was another packed house for the 32nd annual Humboldt Ducks Unlimited Banquet on March 25.
It was all fun and games for wetlands with games, silent and live auctions, and draws.
Rio, Dave Atamanchuk’s dog, was back to play his role in eliminating contestants from a chance to win one of the big trip draws in the High Flyer draw.
Travis Behning, Manager of Events and Volunteer Relations for Northern Saskatchewan, says that Humboldt is one of the only fundraisers that he has seen that uses an actual dog in Retriever Fever.
All the money stays within about a 100 kilometre radius around Humboldt, for conserving wetlands. According to Behning, over 44 million has been raised for Humboldt area projects in the past 32 years.
“Nights like this impact what we do on the landscape, impact how we work with producers, and partnerships that we make,” says Behning.
Behning says the support from the community and the amount of donations was a highlight of the night for him.
“The fun and excitement that comes with the cause, that’s what’s exciting.”
Behning was also very excited to present Humboldt Ducks Unlimited Vice President Darcy Leonew with a Outstanding Achievement award for his 10 years of service with Ducks Unlimited.
“Seeing the look on his face when receiving an award like that, that shows dedication.”
Humboldt Ducks Unlimited President Chris Miller is originally from the southern United States and travelled to Saskatchewan to hunt. Without the success of banquets like the one in Humboldt, Saskatchewan will not have successful hunting seasons.
This is where it all starts, says Miller.
Leonew says support is consistent year after year and that is what makes it fun.
“They want to come back here every year,” he says.
Prizes were just exceptional, says Leonew, with both large companies, like Cabela’s, and local companies opening up their wallets and their hearts to donate great prizes.
Without fundraisers like the banquet, Ducks Unlimited does not do the projects that they do, says Atamanchuk.
Producers were a big part of the banquet and of conservation, says Atamanchuk, with many local area farmers involved with Ducks Unlimited and conservation projects.
“The projects are funded by this. The people who come out to support this is supporting a great cause.”
Without high levels of snowfall this winter, there will not be a lot of spring runoff which is a blessing for local wetlands, says Atamanchuk.
“Wetlands are in great shape, probably overfull. So with farming the way it is, all the issues...the less the better.”
