Savanna- One memory that will always stick in a kids mind is first gun they ever owned. They remember the feel of it, the smell of it, and where they got it. It something that doesn’t need to be explained by hunters and sportsmen. After the close of the Sportsman’s Banquet at Manny’s banquet room last Saturday 16 kids got their first memory of owning a new gun. The Sportsman’s Banquet is held every year to bring together hunting and outdoor families for a night to take the edge off of winter and relax.. In the free youth gun drawing 9 lucky boys and 7 lucky girls came forward as Mike Cyze of ESPN Outdoor Radio Network called their names. The final gun a stainless steel Rossi .22 rifle was donated by Phowler Boats of Clinton Iowa.. Max Knuth of Savanna and his dad Todd came forward to claim the prize and get pictures taken. The gun drawing is 1sponsored by several members of the Waterfowl USA chapter that host the annual banquet.
During the night Brad Ries from Sure Shot Firearms in Clinton was on hand to help with the paperwork and make the drawing run smoothly. Besides the youth gun drawing, the kids was able to play their own Ring Toss raffle that was sponsored by Barack Truck Repair of Futon. The top prize, scoped 22.Savage rifle was won by Allie Cook of Clinton Iowa.
After dinner Mike Cyze and guest auctioneer Adam Johnson of Miles Iowa called the auction where everything from wildlife art to sporting goods was sold. After the auction the remaining raffles was drawn to give away guns, decoys and other sporting goods. The event always sells tickets for two top prizes. A Springfield 1911 ACP 45 was won by Paul Willgig owner of Phowler Boats in Clinton Iowa. The other big gun winner was Cal Cramer of Futon Il winning a Remington Versa Max shotgun. The Cramers luck did not stop there with his wife’s Jan’s good fortune of winning a Heritage .22 pistol in the Penny raffle and then winning the Waterfowler raffle with all of the waterfowl gear. Along with the waterfowl gear was a “Duck Commander” Mossberg 835 shotgun. The Cramer’s have been chapter members since the conservation group was first organized.
Proceeds from the Sportsman’s banquet is used by the Mississippi Flyway chapter of Waterfowl USA for waterfowl conservation efforts in this area.
