SEMO Friends of NRA hosts 27th annual banquet

More than 450 people turned out for Saturday night’s 27th annual SEMO Friends of NRA banquet to show support for their Second Amendment rights.

“We were up just a bit,” event co-chair Albert Boeving said of the crowd. “I thought it went very smoothly, and we didn’t keep people too long. Everything we had did really well.”

The event, Boeving said, will net “around $43,000,” which will help fund various shooting sports programs, grants for high school trap teams, firearms safety education, shooting range programs and more.

Albert Boeving (right) sells a chance on the Gun of the Year to Jim Bailey. DAR/Paul Davis

The banquet kicked off with a social hour, where patrons had the chance to win various items through games, raffles and a silent auction.

The bucket drawing, Boeving noted, was a crowd favorite, as was the wall of boxes.

“That wall of boxes ... those things sell out in about 45 minutes every year. It’s always one our best games,” he said.

Shonna Grobe writes her name on a box in the popular box game. DAR/Paul Davis

The live auction later in the evening also was a success, Boeving said.

The large, framed print of several Republican presidents, which is only available at Missouri banquets this year, was very popular with bidders.

Tasteful Creations owner Karon Campbell and her crew served a steak dinner, which, Boeving said, visitors raved about.

Banquet patrons drop raffle tickets into buckets for a chance to win various items. DAR/Paul Davis

“She does a tremendous job, and I had several compliments on the steaks,” Boeving said. One person, who Boeving described as a world traveler, said the steak was in his top five he’d ever had.

Trent Stillwell and Felix Baker ran the live auction, volunteering their time and expertise to do so.

“They do that for nothing and we appreciate it. They do a tremendous job rotating back and forth and keeping things moving,” Boeving said of the duo.

More than 90 firearms went home with new owners, including the Friends of NRA Gun of the Year, a Sig Sauer P210 pistol in 9mm. It was one of only 1,050 made and was won by Rick Sisk.

This year’s banquet, Boeving noted, had 45 local sponsors.

“Our event is only as good as our sponsors,” he said, “and many of ours have been with us more than 25 years. They’ve gone over and above for what they believe is a good cause. They know what they’re supporting, and it comes from the heart.”

Plans already are underway for next year’s banquet, Boeving said, and volunteers always are needed to help things go smoothly. Anyone wishing to help can contact Boeving at 573-718-9994 or Andrew Heuiser at 573-429-2423.