WCWA fundraiser success

By Manny Everett Times Contributor

This year marked the 24th annual wild game dinner and auction of the Wheatland Conservation and Wildlife Association (WCWA), held on March 3 at the Strathmore Civic Centre.
Despite the inclement weather and deteriorating road conditions throughout the previous day and night, the dinner was a sold-out event with 300 of its association members and their guests in attendance at the club’s only fundraiser of the year.
WCWA is a non-profit organization whose focus is to assist with wildlife habitat, and species management and conservation through education and community involvement.
Association members and guests were treated to a buffet catered by BubbaQ Smokehouse and Catering from Calgary. The meal consisted of appetizers such as smoked barbecued salmon with crostinis and smoked buffalo meatballs, with the main meal consisting of such delicacies as slow roasted lamb, slow smoked beef brisket, deer and moose meatloaf with a Dr. Pepper glaze, ginger fried cougar, roasted turkey, slow wood-smoked moose, beer-braised elk stew and spicy goose, and a variety of sides and salads.
“This night’s success boils down to two special groups: the donors and the volunteers,” said Dave Shuman, WCWA vice-president. “With their support, we can hold a well executed and seamless evening. Without them, the education that we try to promote within the County of Wheatland wouldn’t happen. We are thankful for the strong community support of this dinner and auction that sells out every year.”
WCWA has a strong presence in and around the community of Strathmore, promoting a variety of events throughout the year, including their support of the junior youth shooting programs for youth between the ages of 10 and 17. At the club, youth learn firearm safety, archery, the safe operation of .22 pellet guns and shotguns, and ethical and safe hunting practices. WCWA also sponsor area youth to attend the Alberta Hunters Education Instructors’ Association’s (AHEIA) youth hunter education camp every summer, which is held at Alford Lake Conservation Education Centre for Excellence.
With the money raised from the wild game dinner and auction, WCWA helps pay registrations for youth to attend camps that teach them about wilderness survival and hunting, and allow them to obtain their hunter training licenses. WCWA also promotes a couple of fishing derbies in the summer. For instance, the Father’s Day youth and senior fishing derby encourages kids to catch and release at Kinsmen Lake in Strathmore – the club provides fishing poles and bait for the event and the kids compete for prizes in a number of categories. They have also provided poles and tackle for the K&E program students (special needs) from Crowther Memorial Junior High School. WCWA donated two of the floating docks that are presently in Strathmore’s Kinsmen Lake.
In 2017, WCWA purchased and released 650 adult pheasants in Wheatland County, and the club continues to work closely with area farmers to secure and fence land for habitat preservation, development and maintenance.
“We appreciate the community and all of their support and contributions year after year,” said Cheryl Koltusky, WCWA board member. “The WCWA recently moved the clubhouse to a new home located on land graciously donated by Carl, Tina and Robert (Bob) Carlson to use. We thank them for providing such a home for the club and look forward to working with them on this project.”
Next year (2019) is the club’s 25th anniversary of the wild game dinner and auction.