Auction Details
Auction and Banquet fund raiser benefiting wildlife conservation, humanitarian, and education efforts both globally and locally. Join us to an evening and visit our over 50 exhibitors from all over the world!
Wow!! What a ride. Since this is a family event, I am going to keep it clean, but 2020 was an interesting year, to say the least. The world shut down due to a virus, the Stock Market crashed and then rebounded to an all-time high, oil hit negative numbers, and we learned that regardless of skin color, your life probably matters. That being said, we are very grateful for each and every one of you here tonight. Your participation in tonight’s event, shows your dedication to wildlife and the wild places we love. The money you spend on table sponsorship, raffle tickets, and auction items helps fund conservation locally, nationally, and world-wide.
At the West Texas Chapter of SCI, we were fortunate enough to have last year’s major fundraiser before everything went downhill. We maintained our position at the top of the ladder as the #1 SCI chapter in the WORLD. That means we were still able to fund several hunter education, conservation, and humanitarian projects (Total of $447,236.54 in 2020). Here is a list of just some of the things we did in 2020:
1. Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation – Gear Up for Game Wardens: $5,000.00
2. Permian Basi Young Guns, Inc. – Youth Education: $5,000.00
3. Ivan Carter Wildlife Conservation Alliance – Zambezi Delta: $10,000.00
4. Ecological Defense Group Inc – K-9 Program: $10,000.00
5. Purple Heart Hunts: $5,000.00
6. Texas Bighorn Society – TPWD Families $7,500.00
In addition to the above, we continue to fund our sister 501 (c)3 organization, the West Texas Hunting & Fishing Heritage Museum. The museum is used as a tool to preserve West Texas hunting heritage while educating the next generation about the benefits of sound conservation. The museum has hosted events and field trips for people of all ages from elementary school up through adulthood. The museum is filled with trophy specimens of exotic animals from around the world. Sadly, one of the key donors to this great collection, Ed Magruder, passed away in 2020 at the age of 95 years. When the museum was first being built in 2017, Mr. Magruder agreed to donate his entire trophy room, which included animals from all over the globe. Mr. Magruder, along with his father-in-law, had collected several species that are now protected in their native ranges. You can read more about Mr. Magruder’s legacy in the Memorial section of the Auction Program.
We are also very proud of our anti-poaching efforts in several African countries. The grim reality is that this year has been devasting to the African economy, and more people are becoming desperate. The funds we provide to the local anti-poaching units are crucial to the survival of some key species on the Dark Continent.
I want to take some time to thank our Board Members and Volunteers that have helped pull this event together. With so many similar events being cancelled, I am extremely proud of our team that was able to make this happen. Because of their dedication to this organization, this event will be one of the only, and certainly the largest, fundraisers supporting conservation in 2021. Please take some time to say “Thank You” to the board members here tonight.
In closing, I want to personally thank everyone here tonight. This show would not be possible without the table sponsors, exhibitors, members, and attendees. You are truly the heart and soul of this organization. We encourage you to continue your support, by becoming a member of Safari Club International. When you sign up for SCI, you will automatically become a chapter member (we do NOT charge any chapter dues). Thank you again for attending, and God Bless.