Black River chapter of Quail Forever hosts second banquet

Saturday’s second annual Black River Quail Forever banquet was “way better than we ever dreamed,” said chapter president John Blaich, who noted the event grossed $38,000. “It was magical, and we were beyond thrilled and blessed. We were humbled by the reception from everyone.”

More than 150 people attended the event, Blaich said, which was held at Poplar Bluff’s Holiday Inn.

“The Holiday Inn staff did everything they could to help us, and I was very pleased,” said Blaich.

Mike Caldwell tries his luck at one of the games.DAR/Paul Davis

The evening started with a social hour, where patrons could play games and enter raffles to win various firearms and merchandise.

Blaich announced a new scholarship in honor of the late Carl Heuiser, who was the Poplar Bluff chapter’s first sponsor.

“The Carl Heuiser Memorial Fund will be awarded each year to a local senior who is a Quail Forever member and is going to study and work in conservation,” Blaich said.

Dave Foust looks at a painting on display at the banquet. DAR/Paul Davis

Anyone can contribute to the fund, he said.

Blaich also announced a goal of achieving 1,000 acres of habitat restoration in the coming year.

Currently, the chapter is working with several local landowners to restore habitat and an agreement is in place to convert about 600 acres on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property at Wappapello Lake.

Roy Winters buys a raffle ticket from Greenville High School trap team members Trace Hollida and Layne Clubb.DAR/Paul Davis

During the banquet, Blaich also told the crowd about a new youth division of the Quail Forever chapter which will be established soon.

The Department of Conservation even had a biologist on hand to answer questions about habitat improvement, Blaich noted.

Karon Campbell’s Tasteful Creations served a steak dinner during the banquet, which Blaich called “exceptional.”

After the meal, Felix Baker donated his expertise to conduct a live auction.

“He did an incredible job,” Blaich noted.

Several guns were given away during the event, including Browning X-Bolt and Henry Golden Boy rifles won by Donald Piland and a CZ 720 shotgun won by Jimmy Canoy.

Tyler Tucker won a Browning BPS shotgun, and Steve Breckenridge went home with a new Benelli Super Black Eagle III shotgun.

Blaich won the Winchester Super-X 4 shotgun Gun of the Year, while Zane Foust won a Browning A-Bolt rifle.

Blaich noted the checkout system this year, developed by Stacy Tucker and Jamie Dicken, made things flow very smoothly and got patrons out very quickly at the conclusion of the event.

Every dollar raised by the local chapter, Blaich emphasized, stays local and helps fund habitat and education programs as well as local high school trap teams.

“This is a chapter where the money stays local, and it’s growing by leaps and bounds,” Blaich said.

Anyone wishing to improve the wildlife habitat on their own property, Blaich said, can contact him at 573-785-0111 to see what the Black River chapter of Quail Forever can do for them.