HOWARD — It’s an annual tradition for a good cause.
The Kokosing River chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation is holding its annual banquet on Saturday, March 26. And the group wants to meet you.
“This is a great chance to meet new friends who share a passion for the outdoors,” banquet chairman Barry Coffing said. “It’s a great chance to swap stories and socialize.”
The Floral Valley Community Center in Apple Valley is hosting the annual event.
For a fee, a guest can enjoy socializing with members and non-members before sitting down to a feast. There are raffles, giveaways and a silent as well as a live auction.
Some of the items up for auction are must-haves for anyone who loves the outdoors. Wildlife art, hunting firearms and equipment, and outdoor hunting trips are all available.
The biggest raffle is for a Chevy truck.
“That’s a national raffle,” Coffing said. “You get drawn for a chance to move on to a national drawing. Someone from there gets picked to win the truck.”
There are more prizes to be won with the games. A half-dozen games will be set up with opportunities to win prizes, many of which are donated from local businesses.
Proceeds go to the Ohio branch of the NWTF, which are then distributed to the different state chapters.
The Kokosing River chapter is well decorated. The Ohio branch has given the chapter multiple honors. Most recently, the group received Golden Gobbler status, which is an honor for those chapters who pull the most net profit.
The chapter also boasts large increases in the number of Grand Slams it holds. A hunter achieves a Grand Slam when he or she successfully hunts four specific turkey subspecies.
It isn’t all about awards and profits. The group’s main focus is helping local charities. This past Christmas, the Kokosing River chapter donated over 150 turkeys to needy families for their holiday dinners.
