Fifth annual Outdoorsmen With a Mission banquet is biggest in organization’s history

In only five years, the Poplar Bluff-based Outdoorsmen With a Mission organization has grown from an idea of a few people to help others into a larger group dedicated not only to its original goals, but also to introducing children to the outdoors.

On Saturday, the organization held its fifth annual banquet, which organizers said was the biggest yet.

“It was a great night,” said OWM President Aaron Aden. “We had over 300 people, and it was our best one yet.”

Dan Slavings and others prepare a catfish dinner for the Outdoorsmen With a Mission banquet.DAR/Paul Davis

The event at Poplar Bluff’s First Baptist Church featured a fish and pulled-pork dinner, with a few extra surprises, like samples of elk chili.

“We usually do a wild game dinner, but we changed it up this year,” said Aden.

Aden noted he received lots of positive feedback from the event, and said “everyone seemed to have a good time.”

Jennifer and Blake Thomas sign up to win a raffle prize.DAR/Paul Davis

Patrons had the chance to bid on lots of merchandise, including fishing gear, deer stands, hunting blinds, a cooler, handgun safe, framed prints and more.

“We had some good gun raffles,” Aden said. “The Ruger AR-15 was popular, and as soon as I mentioned it, it was sold out.”

The banquet, Aden said, grossed more than $14,000, easily making it the best ever for the organization.

Josh Conover (right) sells Dan Conover a raffle ticket for a shotgun drawing.DAR/Paul Davis

The money, he said, will stay local and will help fund several youth programs and support those in need.

A spring youth turkey hunt is planned, as is an upland bird youth hunt at Ozark Wings.

The organization also hosts a fall youth deer hunt, a September skeet shoot and plans on holding a fishing event for children this summer.

“We really are trying to get kids into the outdoors,” Aden noted.

Outdoorsmen With a Mission, Aden said, also tries to help those in need “when opportunity arises.”

Examples include assistance for a family which lost its home in a fire, purchasing needed appliances for another family, sending handicapped children to Disney World, sponsoring a wounded veterans hunt and more.