Media Release - March 17, 2023

The seventh annual KickingBear Ministries of Kansas Wildgame Feed Fundraiser was held on February 25, 2023 at the Gyp Hill Guest Ranch Event Center in Medicine Lodge was a fantastic success. There were in excess of 150 KickingBear supporters of all ages in attendance who sampled the fourteen wildgame dishes prepared by our local exceptional wildgame chefs and local hunters. Six volunteer meat preparers began the meat prep activities Friday morning. All was ready for the grill or oven by noon that day. Our local eight volunteer grillers, cookers and fryers began the cooking process at 4:30 and the dishes were ready to be served at 6:00 pm. Our dishes consisted of quail breasts wrapped in bacon, duck gumbo, duck and crane fajitas, elk enchilada casserole, pheasant deluxe casserole, venison and wild pig sausage sliders, wild turkey and noodles, goose and duck sausage, deep fried fish, deep fried frog legs, squirrel casserole, squirrel jambalaya and alligator. Everyone raved about the tastiness of the dishes they sampled as well as the number of selections to choose from.

Following the meal, Tom Lee, Director, KickingBear Ministries of Kansas, gave a brief talk about what ministry activities comprised KickingBear Kansas. He addressed the annual KickingBear camp held in early June, the annual Veterans turkey hunts held annually in mid and late May, the developing youth mentored hunt program, (a program for our community youth to have opportunities in outdoor hunting activities year round), and the developing Centershoot Archery programs for youth 13-19 years of age as well as for families and adults. He spoke to the needs of the amount of funding these starting programs require as well as the on going operational funding needs of each of the current on going programs. KickingBear Ministries of Kansas is and IRS qualified 501C3 tax exempt organization, so most all donations are tax deductible. He spoke of the growth of the KickingBear Ministries of Kansas camp outreach program. One was held in late January at the Topeka Monster Buck show with six volunteers from Medicine Lodge making the trip. A Wichita church is planning on getting one going as well. Ray Howell and Kevin Bonnar were present at the feed from Minnesota and Wisconsin. Ray talked about the present and future vision of KickingBear. Kevin gave a gospel message on salvation.

Following the program portion, the activities turned to fundraising efforts. Many local area individuals and business donated their products for the auction which was handled by Auctioneer Jed Hill. Others individuals and business also donated funds to cover costs of some auction items and/or to be used in developing the programs. There was also a raffle for a Ruger 22 LR Rifle, a Solo Smokeless Patio Fire Pit and a Blackstone flat top grill. These activities along with the freewill offering given for the meal generated $9,100.00 after expenses.

As with any endeavor, it takes a village to support and help with community efforts such as this. Our program is the recipient of these fantastic efforts and we appreciate so much this community’s willingness to assist us with this so vitally important ministry for youth in the areas of Kansas we serve.