A view of the Smoker event from one of the prior years. (File photo/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Annual tradition

Smoker fundraiser will be take out again this year

Mar 14, 2022 | 12:00 PM

The Smoker dinner fundraiser continues to be a hot ticket in the Battlefords.

Organizers say the meal will be take-out only again, similar to last year. All proceeds benefit the Battlefords Wildlife Federation.

Past president Vickey Guttormson, who has helped organize the event, said more tickets will be available this year to meet the demand.

“Last year it was 300, and we are upping it to 500,” she said.

In 2021 the event sold out quickly, so people will want to get their tickets soon to avoid disappointment.

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Organizers decided to keep it as a to-go event to be safe for this year, with COVID-19 gathering numbers still uncertain when they were planning the event.

“At the time we didn’t know if anything was going to be opening up,” Guttormson said. “So we had to figure out a fundraiser to do.”

She said it would have been great to have everyone get together for a sit-down dinner banquet as in the past, but this was the best alternative.

The Smoker event is a good opportunity for people to enjoy a variety of tasty offerings, including some items they may not often have a chance to try.

“We will have smoked sausage, moose meatballs, fresh sausage, and fish,” Guttormson said. “Basically, it will all be in a take out package.”

Meals can be picked up with pre-purchased tickets at the Battlefords Wildlife Federation Clubhouse on Thatcher Avenue on April 9 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“It’s first come, first served,” Guttormson said. “We run the meals out to your vehicles. Come and help support the Battlefords Wildlife Federation, and get a great meal.”

Tickets are $25 each, available in advance at Redhead Equipment, Leisure Time Sports and Bridges Chevrolet Buick GMC.

Conservation efforts

Funds raised from the event will go towards supporting Battlefords Wildlife Federation’s conservation projects.

“Any of the upcoming projects we have coming up – like our pheasant program, it helps fund that,” Guttormson said. “Hopefully, we will get that back in the schools this year. And, our other programs we hope to get started back up.”

As part of the pheasant program, students raise the birds in their classroom, from time of hatching to when the birds are ready to be released in nature. The project has been temporarily on the back burner during the COVID-19 situation but plans are to bring it back in the future.

“Usually we will get the schools to come and watch us get them released,” Guttormson said of the project. “It’s to try to educate our youth on wildlife.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow