The Moniteau County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited (DU) held its annual dinner meeting and fundraiser at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Tipton on Thursday, Oct.23. Todd Carlton, Jefferson City, Eastern District Regional Director, served as announcer.
"With the nice weather, we really appreciate people coming," said Moniteau Chapter Chairman Phil Schroeder.
About 100 members and guests attended the event, which included the dinner, prepared by several area cooking specialists, a variety of games, live auction, silent auction, drawings for prizes, and plenty of camaraderie. Items auctioned, live and silent, included art works (paintings, prints, sculptures and carvings), home furnishing items (table decorations, wine racks, end tables), weaponry (firearms, air rifles, machetes, knives, cleaning kits and sharpening kits) and many more including a number of items with the DU emblem.
There were many special live auction items, some of which were a Terry Redlin print, "Special Memories," donated by Tipton Latham Bank; a football autographed by Deron Cherry, Kansas City Chiefs Football Hall of Honor, donated by Rep. David Wood; and a 2014 Ducks Unlimited shotgun.
Funds from drawings and games also contribute to the money raised. The money raised at the Moniteau County DU chapter event has funded reclamation and restoration of hundreds of wetland acreage.
There are about 45 DU chapters in the northeast third of the state. The restoration work of DU is mostly along the riparian corridors of streams. Much of the work has been done in the Prairie Pothole Region which is the number one migratory bird breeding habitat in North America.
According to Chapter Chairman Schroeder and Secretary John Overbey, the Moniteau County DU Chapter is always open to new members.