Sheep Show nets almost $5 million for foundation
The Wild Sheep Foundation raised nearly $5 million at its annual convention earlier this year in Reno, Nev.The Sheep Show brought in $3.6 million in its auction program, including nearly $2.5 million on limited and special permits alone. The figure is $600,000 more than 2009.
Proceeds are directed back to state, provincial and tribal agencies to support their wildlife programs.
Auction highlights include $275,000 paid for the Montana Rocky Mountain bighorn permit, $210,000 for the Alberta minister’s Rocky Mountain bighorn license, a record breaking $135,000 for the Nevada desert bighorn and a record $120,000 for the Utah desert bighorn, which doubled the 2009 price paid.
“We spent four years building the convention in Salt Lake City with our industry friends and wanted our return home to Reno, our 19th annual convention to date in the city, to set the mark, tone and stage for the next five years in Nevada,” said WSF President & CEO Gray N. Thornton. “Reno welcomed us back, and our members, exhibitors, donors and sponsors responded in kind, raising record dollars for wildlife and our mission programs.”
Larry Potterfield, founder and CEO of MidwayUSA, the official sponsor of the Wild Sheep Foundation, gave the keynote address during the Saturday banquet before 1,000 attendees. In his speech, he challenged the room to give back in time, money or talent to conservation and the hunting and shooting community. His message was heeded when nearly $1 million was raised with 11 auction items during the finale auction, including $175,000 raised for the USA Olympic Shooting Team on the sale and resale of a special USA Shooting Winchester Model 1885 rifle customized by Baron Technology. The Winchester rifle was sold, re-donated and re-sold six times before the final gavel fell.
“Our goal for the 2010 Sheep Show was to have fun while raising money for wildlife,” said WSF Chairman Dan F. Boone stated. “Members have told me that the 2010 event was the best Sheep Show to date and set the standard for all others to follow. The board and staff are already working on the February 2011 event to raise the bar even higher.”
