Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation plans banquet
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation plans to host its 24th annual banquet on Saturday at the Memorial Center in Libby.
Quinn Carver, Lincoln County Chapter fundraising chair, said it’s been a good year for the organization, which was founded in Troy in 1984 and has grown into a nationwide force with around 150,000 members.
“We never get the work done we do without good help with good partners,” Carver said. “There’s a lot of work that gets done that otherwise would have to wait for state money.”
The banquet helps raise funds for the foundation with proceeds paying for things like wildlife habitat improvement projects and weed treatment. Carver said that in Lincoln County since 1986, almost $66,000 has gone to habitat enhancement and since 2001, almost $10,500 has gone toward weed treatment.
Last year’s banquet attracted more than 200 people. Besides a prime rib dinner, the event features various auctions and raffles that have become popular among outdoors enthusiasts.
This year’s merchandise list includes 10 rifles, including a Sako A7 in the raffle, a limited edition Chairman’s Rifle in the auction, a Remington 700 XHR in the progressive drawing and a Browning X-Bolt Hunter .300 Win Mag in the rifle raffle.
Many other items will also be auctioned and raffled off from knives and clothing to household items and artwork.
“We’re doing pretty well this year on sponsorships and memberships,” Carver said. “There are lots of pre-hunting season items folks might be interested in.”
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with social hour, which includes drawings, raffles, games, drinks and the silent auction. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., with the live auction to follow.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has conserved or enhanced habitat on more than 5.8 million acres – a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation.
For tickets, call 293-3812 or 334-0134.