An original pheasant painting donated by artist Jodi Kopecky brought $110. She was present to explain her design and congratulate the buyer.
This year the auction featured the sale of ten Pheasant Hunter Parking Only signs and two were on the silent auction. The 12 signs brought in more than $1,300. A special drawing was held for the sign owners featuring two guns, three gift cards, artwork, a tree stand, Iowa Cub tickets and other nice prizes.
Mailboxes specially painted for Iowa State University and University of Iowa brought a little good-natured ribbing during the auction. The Hawks beat the Cyclones by $5, with the boxes selling for $75 and $70 respectively.
A large number of items on the silent auction drew the attention of bidders as folks frequently checked the bidding sheets prior to closing the bids. Kevin Lentz cried the auction following the meal served by Lidderdale Country Store. Jared Wiklund, PF regional director for southern Iowa, assisted with the event, providing background information on the prints and other tidbits. Many prizes donated by Greene County businesses were given away in raffle drawings.
Special mention was made to thank the family of Kent Hedges for its donation to the chapter in his memory.
In the past 27 years, Greene County PF has completed 117 food plots encompassing 639 acres; six land projects totaling 2,626 acres; 445 nesting projects covering 7,674 acres and 132 shelterbelt projects on 195 acres.
Pheasants Forever is a national non-profit conservation organization founded in 1982 in response to the continuing decline of the ring-necked pheasant population. PF is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant and other upland wildlife populations through habitat improvement, public awareness and education and land management policy changes.
PF is fortified by a unique system of county chapters that provide incentive for sportsmen and women to raise money because chapters decide how to spend 100 percent of the net funds they raise. Chapters also support youth education and conservation legislation benefiting the ringneck and other upland wildlife populations at both the state and federal levels. ~Article and photos by Bayard News Gazette/Scranton Journal
