EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The NWTF Backroads Strutters Chapter of El Reno, Oklahoma, recently hosted its most successful banquet yet, with over 200 attendees, 22 sponsor tables and so much more, making it the highest grossing banquet in Oklahoma.
Kamara Gatz, NWTF Backroads Strutters Chapter president, advertised the event by reaching out to business owners, people in the community and engagement on social media as well.
“We had a lot of new people this year,” Gatz said. “It was great to see different people showing up. Some had no idea about NWTF, they just saw the event and thought it looked fun, and then others were kind of familiar with NWTF, but they had never been to an event.”
Gatz also included exclusive sponsor events throughout the night to attract more sponsors at the banquet.
“There were several new people that asked how to become sponsors next year because I did a lot of sponsor-driven things,” said Gatz. “I also did a VIP hour for my sponsors, which gets them in the door an hour earlier, and they can start playing games.”
The VIP hour also had live music playing. The performer, Kase Tippens, was just on American Idol.
The banquet’s dinner was a farm to table meal provided by a local company that does catering, a perfect way to honor what a lot of hunters are trying to do, which is harvesting their own food from the land.
The chapter also sees their banquet as a way to engage youth with the NWTF’s mission.
“We gave away a lifetime hunting license to a youth, and we had a youth gun raffle giveaway,” Gatz said. “We had almost 30 kids here.”
They also auctioned raised funds for an upcoming youth fishing derby.
In addition, the chapter had several auction items that were for ladies only.
“We wanted to make sure we incorporated everybody,” said Gatz.
To recognize some of the guys that were there since the beginning, Gatz gave away a Golden Gobbler membership.
“It’s an engraved turkey feather with a shotgun shell on it, and it says Golden Gobbler member with their name on it. When they go turkey hunting, there’s a place for them to put their beard on it.”
The chapter has achieved Golden Gobbler status since Gatz and her husband took leadership of the chapter. They also won the L.A. Dixon award during the 49th annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show this past February.
“The Oklahoma Backroads Stutters NWTF Chapter, led by President Kamara Gatz, has done an amazing job at perfecting the art of fundraising,” said Robert Taylor, NWTF regional director for Oklahoma. “The chapter has already raised over $112,000 in gross revenue this year and continues to go above and beyond for our state and the NWTF vision. Every year, they focus on partnering with the right people in the community to achieve new levels, and the proof is in the numbers. The resources Kamara has used along with the hard work of her team has proven very effective. The Backroads Strutters have shown outstanding leadership and continue to set the bar each year for our conservation efforts.”
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.
