Annual Pheasants Forever banquet packs the Legion Hall, nets over $20,000

Local business owners, residents and families packed into the American Legion Memorial Hall to support and participate in the 16th Annual Pheasants Forever Banquet and Auction. With an estimated 160 people in attendance, the live and silent auction items alone netted nearly $16,900 for the organization.

All of the money raised during the event goes back to the community and is used for habitat, conservation, food and water projects, as well as Youth Hunter education programs within Adams County.

This year, the organization announced they are putting a special emphasis on programs for the youth members.

The evening began with a social hour and the start of the live auction, as well as an introduction of organization members and students who have found success on the range this year.

Following a meal provided by local chefs and Classy Country Catering, the live auction began under the direction of Emcee Alan Thompson and Auctioneer Dr. Warren Kragt.

The auction began successfully, quickly selling multiple items for over $200 apiece before the third item of the night raised the bar. Doug Borth purchased a vintage neon beer sign for $775, with the second sign selling for $225.

Halfway through the auction, another item sold for $775 to Larry Yockey, who purchased a Henry American Farmer .22 rifle.

The highest selling auction items of the night were a set of four truck tires, donated by Adams Automotive, and a dinner at the Man Cave.

Ryan Tracy won the auction for the truck tires for $1,650, with the addition of two complementary oil changes for the purchase.

Rob Dewald won the bidding for the Man Cave Dinner for a total of $1,825. The dinner is provided for four couples.

The live auction garnered $13,900 for the organization, with an additional $1,100 being raised through the auctioning of barbecued beer and a wine raffle.

Throughout the night, all of the youth in the audience had an opportunity to bid on certain items allowed only for Ringnecks. The Ringneck auction items are for those 18 years old and younger.

In the silent auction, Ringnecks also had items to bid on and the live auction provided some friendly bidding competition between friends and relatives.

The two highest Ringneck auction items of the night sold for $275 and $175.

At the conclusion of the live auction, the winners of the large item raffles were announced. The two raffle items of the night included a Savage 111 Long Range Hunter, 338 Lappua for adults, and a hand engraved .22 Cal Henry Arms Lever Action rifle for Ringnecks.

The Ritzville Chapter No. 634 of the Adams County Pheasants Forever organization will now focus on implementing programs for local youth to participate in.

The most popular of the programs the chapter offers is the hunter education programs to teach firearm and hunter safety.