Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Enjoy an entertaining evening while raising money to benefit elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage – that’s what the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation promises at its fundraiser banquet and auction scheduled for May 3 at the Hays American Legion.

The evening begins with a cocktail social at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m., followed by a live auction for world-class wildlife art, firearms, unique collectibles and more.

“Money raised at our banquet will go toward on-the-ground conservation and hunting heritage projects here in our own backyard while also assisting elk and elk country across the nation,”” said Jon Koffman, Abilene, who volunteers with a local RMEF committee of conservationists to host the event. “We promise a good time for a great cause. This is the first annual banquet that we hosted here in Hays, and we’re proud of our continuing support for RMEF’s conservation work across the country.

Since 1984, the organization enhanced or conserved more than 6.4 million acres of habitat — nearly all on public lands — for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also opened or secured access to more than 667,000 of land for public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Additionally, RMEF worked to restore wild elk populations in parts of their former range such as Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri, Virginia and Arkansas.

Tickets are $60 per person; $85 per couple; $15 for youth age 5 through 12; and 5 and under eat free. Each single and couple ticket includes a yearly membership and a Bugle magazine subscription from the conservation organization. A meal-only ticket can be purchased for $25.

For ticket information and reservations, contact Mark Nash at (417) 399-5767 or [email protected].