Wild Game Feed grows

Twenty years! Twenty years of the Fallon County Wild Game Feed in memory of Stan Wagner has come and gone. According to Wendy Wagner and Norton Walker, the game feed brought in an estimated 1,500 people. The largest crowd they have had.

The people were served elk cotto salami, mountain lion summer sausage, buffalo meatballs, antelope stroganoff, bear chili, wild hog and mountain lion chili, pulled elk, pulled wild hog and elk enchiladas. All the wild game is donated by locals.

Some of the big winners of the evening were Dustin Gorder, winner of the mature buffalo bull hunt, Wendy Wagner, winner of the young bison bull hunt and Kirk Lineback was the winner of the bull elk hunt. Brock Collins won the gun safe with four guns. Winner of the go-cart was Finley Poppert, Jason Benedict won the dirt bike and Kael Gorder was the winner of the dirt bike in the 12-17 year old games. Bryan Batchelor was the winner of the quilt. The reverse raffle winners could only purchase one ticket and only 275 tickets were sold. The lucky winners were fifth place, Amber Hurley, two paddle boards, fourth place went to Kodee Varner winning an AGM Varmint thermal scope with built in rangefinder, third place, Steve Zachmann, winner of a Baker Hardware Gift Certificate, second place, Jayln Sokoloski, winner of a Model 1874 218 B Little Sharps Rifle, and first place went to Jody Fiechtner, winner of an Ariens Ikon Onyx 52" zero turn mower. Winners of the three gun raffle were first place, Roxi Renner, second place Jen Sokoloski and thirdplace was Rocky Graham.

Wendy's highlight of the evening was the kids' games. "Seeing how excited the kids were walking out with their prizes, was priceless", Wendy said. Norton Walker's highlight of the evening was the special presentation to the Gary Gorder family on behalf of the Wild Game Feed Board. Also, a buddy bar in memory of Gary, was on display at the Game Feed. It was built by Jade Boggs and Jay Hoversland. It will be at the American Legion.

The board consists of Jake and Wendy Wagner, Jessica Benedict, Norton Walker, Jim Reetz, Justin and Andrea Koenigsfield, Gene and Rita Nemitz, Dustin Erickson, Dusty Gorder, Andrew Craft and Darick Gorder. They would like to send their appreciation to the Baker Wrestling Club, Knights of Columbus, Marmarth Historical Society/Carter County Museum, Sons of American Legion, Wibaux Civic Club and the Friends of FMC. All of these organizations helped wherever their help was needed.

The Fallon County Wild Game Feed is a non-profit organization. The money raised stays local and they help other non-profit organizations in the surrounding areas. They continue to do scholarships but that money is drawn from a different fund.

The board will start planning in January 2025 for the next Wild Game Feed, which will be held Nov. 8, 2025. Mark your calendars!!

I asked Wendy what she thought Stan would say about how the Game Feed has grown. She said that Stan would just give that big smile of his. No words would be needed to say because the smile says it all! I asked Norton what Gary Gorder might have said. Norton said that Gary would say to Jake Wagner, " See, I told ya. This was great, now make it bigger."

This Wild Game Feeds draws people from all over. So, let's do what Gary would have said! Let's spread the word next year and make it bigger for a great cause!