Hunter’s Challenge helps stock state’s food banks
Tennessee’s 2017-18 deer season ended in January, but it lives on through the efforts of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, one of the largest and oldest nonprofits dedicated to conserving the state’s wildlife and national resources, and the TWF’s Hunter Challenge.
Launched in 2013, the Hunter Challenge is an initiative of the TWF’s Hunters for the Hungry program, which connects food banks and soup kitchens with caring deer hunters. The TWF provides funding to wild game processors across the state who then receive donated venison from hunters, process the meat free or at a reduced rate and make it available for local food assistance programs.
The Hunter Challenge is a pointbased competition among high school clubs. Christian Brothers High School’s Hunger Challenge Club took home the TWF’s Hunter Bowl Trophy and was recognized as the state champions for their effort supporting Hunters for the Hungry.
How about 3,570 pounds of venison volunteered for a collective 96 hours?
CBHS’s team of Will Wolbrecht and Patrick Koch spear-headed the effort that helped raise $21,500, the most of the TWF’s regional winners. Wolbrecht and Koch tied for the top fund-raisers in Region 1, and Wolbrecht was the top harvester.
“I had so many deer donated, which was amazing,” said Wolbrecht, a rising senior. “It makes me feel great to be able impact our community. It lets people know that young people can make a change.”
Since it was established in 1998, the Hunters for the Hungry program has provided more than six million servings of venison. The Hunter Challenge not only raises critical funds to help feed hungry families, but also serves as an educational experience for students. By participating, students gain important skills in leadership, club-building, humanitarianism and philanthropy.
Wolbrecht credits his father, Ric, with getting him started in hunting.
“When I was about 7 or 8 years old my dad let me go dove hunting with him,” Wolbrecht, 17, said. “I had a BB gun and I thought I was hitting every dove in the field.”
CBHS edged Memphis University School to win the Hunger Bowl Trophy. MUS earned the Region 1 title. In additional to being the regional champion, MUS won the statewide School Top Harvester award with more venison than any other school – 4,002 pounds. Fayette Academy in Somerville, along in Region 1, was recognized for logging the most volunteer hours in the state.
Jeff Simcox, the TWF’s Hunters for the Hungry manager, said, “Tennessee Wildlife Federation works hard to engage youth in the outdoors. Hunters for the Hungry is just one example of how we successfully do that.”
In a statement released by the TWF, Monsignor John McArthur, CBHS’ Hunter Challenge club advisor, said, “I was real impressed with these young men that they’ve taken something they enjoy as a hobby and as a sport and used it to help other people. They are really making a difference. They are feeding needy families. I think that’s a great thing and very conscientious of them to do that.”
Wolbrecht and Koch are already looking ahead to the 2018-19 deer season.
“I can’t wait,” Wolbrecht said. “We have this big trophy in the main lobby of the school. Other students have come to me asking questions. They (fellow students) didn’t bat an eye at what our club did, which is awesome to me.”
At its recent annual meeting in Nashville, the TWF named the Wolf River Conservancy based in Memphis with work spanning Fayette and Hardeman counties, as the Conservation Organization of the Year.
Among the other award winners were Ron Blair of Middleton (conservation educator of the year), Terry Gardner of Humboldt (hunter education instructor of the year) and Representative Jimmy Eldridge of Jackson (Harvest award) For more information go to tnwf.org. Got an item or note? E-mail Larry Rea at lroutdoors@att.net or go to his web site at lroutdoors.com; listen to Larry Rea on Outdoors with Larry Rea on Saturday mornings from 6-7:30 on ESPN 790-AM and 1520-AM and 95.3 in Brownsville, Tenn., and 6:30-8 on News/Talk 101.5 in Jackson, Tenn.