Annual fundraiser benefits many conservation programs

Each year the Sheboygan County Conservation Association and its 29 member clubs host an annual fundraiser banquet. The goal of the event is to provide a quality program, good food and the opportunity to gain dollars to cover the cost of the many excellent programs that benefit the people of Sheboygan County.

Dan Renzelman is the Association’s habitat chairperson as well as its public relations staff person for the banquet. He has agreed to answer a series of questions about the Sheboygan County Conservation Association, its programs, goals and the banquet.

Q. What conservation club do you belong to, and how long have you volunteered with the association’s banquet?

A. I joined the Johnsonville Conservation Club in about 1990 and soon after got involved with the County Association. Early on, I became its habitat chairman, worked on food plots and soon got involved in the introduction of Julian Pheasant to Sheboygan County. Last year I was assigned the task of promoting the association’s important annual fundraiser.

Q. What happens to the money raised by the banquet?

A. Well, all the money stays in and is used by Sheboygan County. We have raised about $750,000 since we started – this is our 28th annual banquet – and have used the dollars to purchase recreational land around the county, such as Gerber Lake (DNR Stewardship dollars covered a large part of the price, but it cost us about $100,000); lands in the Sheboygan Marsh; Sheboygan County lands adjacent to the Cleveland swamp, as well as other lands.

We have also supported many youth programs such as Trees For Tomorrow, Camp Y-Koda, annual Free Fishing Day at the Sheboygan Falls Lagoon, archery and other youth-directed programs.

In addition, we support food plots, the pheasant program, Onion River restoration, college scholarships, Sheboygan Marsh Tower, Outdoor Skills Center, fish planting, wetland development, DNR intern studies, and seven-year farm-wetland matching funds along the Sheboygan River. The list goes on and is indeed impressive.

It should be pointed out that often club members provide countless hours of in-kind donated work that relates to some of the different projects that are funded.

Q. What can you tell me about the upcoming banquet?

A. It will be held at the Range Line Inn, Sheboygan Falls, on Thursday, May 13. Tickets sell for $45. You will receive a great meal and a chance to win one of the nearly 200 door prizes and, for an extra fee, be eligible to enter a drawing for some major special prize packages, including the picnic, canoe, Muskie fishing package, a curio cabinet (value $900), prints, bowhunter, five-foot summer sausage, trapshooter and other special prizes. Most specials have a value between $500 and $1,000, some even more. Items are donated by individuals, clubs and area businesses. Tickets can be obtained by calling Mary Jo Robinson at (920) 459-8428 or sending an e-mail to (migbpackers@charter.net ).

Q. Why should someone go to the banquet?

A. Even if you are not a hunter or fisher, the Sheboygan County Conservation Association promotes youth and adult education such as Camp Y-Koda; has helped promote non-game birds, animals and fish through wetland, grassland and stream restoration; and has provided many outdoor activities that are a positive benefit for many in Sheboygan County.

What is nice, anyone who wishes to come to the banquet, can bring family or friends with them to make it a special night-out that will benefit the outdoors, provide a great meal and offer a chance to win a nice prize.