After nearly two decades the annual Blaine County Wildlife Museum's major fundraiser still draws a sellout crowd. Museum Manager Tammie Edwards said banquet tickets sold out a few days before the annual Banquet and Auction held last Saturday evening at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Chinook. Ticketholders had the opportunity to tour the museum downtown before heading to the church's parish hall where they could view auction and raffle items to be sold and given away after dinner.

By 6:30 p.m. most ticket holders were already at the parish hall to view the live auction items and make bids on a large array of silent auction items. Well before dinner at 7 p.m. seats at the dining tables were full as guests awaited the prime rib dinner, with trimmings, that arrived right on schedule.

Several Wildlife board members said the raffle tickets sold out before all the guests arrived. Edwards explained this year's number of printed raffle tickets exceeded last year's by twenty percent, still the raffle tickets sold out early.

Once dinner was completed the live auction began. Auctioneer Shane Ophus wasted no time getting the crowd warmed up for the bidding. Live auction items ranged from an albino porcupine, sold for sponsorship to remain in the museum, to 20 yards of pit-run gravel. Interspersed were weekend trips, hand crafted furniture and décor items, sports tickets, art and homemade pies. There was something for everyone.

The albino porcupine, to remain on exhibit at the museum, was purchased in memory of Benton Gould by his widow, Leta. She noted, "Benton always brought visitors to Chinook to tour the Wildlife Museum, he was very taken with the exhibits." The Least Weasel, another auctioned specimen for permanent display, was purchased by Ellen Solem. She explained, "I bought the weasel to honor our son Tim. As a little boy he always loved to chase critters out in the wild."

The final amount of funds raised by the event were not available at press time, but it's fairly clear it will be another successful event. Funds from the annual banquet and auction are used to support operations and maintenance of the wildlife museum. Exhibition development and special projects are typically supported through grants or major individual gifts.

Work on the final permanent exhibit, the Foothills diorama, should be completed this fall. New signage for the exhibits and a special mobile display about taxidermy will also be available in the fall if plans go well.

The "Journal" salutes the Wildlife Museum staff, board of directors, donors for the event and the many volunteers who make the annual banquet and auction such a success. And thanks to all the guests who came to enjoy the evening and gave so generously during the auctions and raffles.