Fish & Game Association gathers to brag over dinner

Morinville – Approximately 340 adults and youth gathered at the Morinville Community Cultural Centre Mar. 24 for the Morinville Fish and Game Association’s (MFGA) 20th Anniversary Brag Night, an evening fundraiser that combines a wild game dinner, auction, and the handing out of trophies to local outdoor enthusiasts.

MFGA Trophy Chair Jim Moore presented 10 trophies and one Club Appreciation Award at the event. The Youth Pike trophy was presented to Adam Bochar for his catch of a 65-centimetre fish. Going away with two trophies each were Jordan Thuillier with the Youth Whitetail and Scenic Photography trophies, and Len Anderson with the Northern Pike and Adult Walleye trophies. The Lady High Score trophy was presented to Lynn Chaplin, Adult Whitetail to Jack Reader, Adult Mule Deer to Justin DeRudder, Adult Moose to Rick Lavoie, and Adult Bear to Jay Kondro. The MFGA Club Appreciation Award went to MFGA President Joe Sinclair.

But while 10 members were declared winners during the Mar. 24 event, many felt the dinner was the big winner of the evening, a wild mixture of moose meatballs in mushroom gravy, venison meatballs in honey garlic sauce, moose roast, buffalo roast, smoked salmon, deep fried turkey, and pheasant breast, all served with a variety of sides and desserts.

Another popular element of the annual Brag Night was the silent auction. This year’s event contained 240 separate items. Three of those items brought in some big money for the association. A Toronto Maple Leafs signed print, a special edition Rocky Mountain Meadow print by Nancy Glazier, and a set of two outdoor metal rocking chairs crafted locally by Phil DeRudder, each brought in bids in excess of $900.

Additionally, this year’s event included a couple special raffle to mark the 20th anniversary of the MFGA. The President’s Rifle Raffle gave participants a chance to win a 7mm Venture Thomson Center rifle and case. A Rod Triberger print titled Peace in the Valley was raffled off to support the Gerald Foster Memorial Fund, established to support wilderness education and training for children and young adults, and to encourage the enjoyment and stewardship of the outdoors. Gerald Foster’s widow, Avis Foster, presented the print to raffle ticket winner Linda Valk.

“Money from the winning bids will go towards conserving wildlife habitat supporting educational opportunities, local community initiatives and to support activities at the MFGA pond,” said Turner. The MFGA, through the support it receives from community businesses and individuals is able to help support the Camp HeHoHa Disabled Fishing Day, facilities at Narrow Lake Conservation Camp as well as many other worthwhile causes.