THE SPRINGS AREA Pheasants Forever held their annual banquet and auction Sunday evening at the Prairie Lounge. This year’s event was one of the most successful ever with around 140 in attendance. Some of the members are pictured setting up for the event. They are from left: Brent Frye, Randy Doty, Joan Hoefert, Tom Hoefert, Roger Thompson, Darwin Weeldreyer, Shane Heydon, Brandon Haiar, Steve Knipfer, Dan Kruse, Kendra Heydon, Fred Krohmer, Brady Younie. Front: Domanick Havard who won the Winchester 270 at the banquet. Blake Messmer won the used 20 gauge that he registered for at the youth hunt. Several other shotguns and rifles were won as well as many other wildlife related items on the auction (note the neon pheasant in the picture). A highlight of the night was John Green, noted wildlife artist, who finished up a painting at the banquet that was later auctioned off with half of the proceeds going to the local chapter. The club uses the money raised at the event to help promote pheasant hunting, create habitat and conduct the annual youth hunt. Photo/Duke Wenzel