Devising new and innovative fundraisers is a difficult task, but a few years ago Elaine Jones came up with an idea that has clearly resonated with the community. Last Saturday’s Wild Game Feast to benefit The Arc and other charities supported by the Rotary Club of Vero Beach Oceanside drew roughly 700 people to a “walk on the wild side” with an event that featured wild game and family fun.
“My husband is a taxidermist and all these guys were always coming in and I thought, why not get them together to have a charitable fundraiser?” explains Jones of the concept. The hunter customers of her husband, owner of Frank’s Taxidermy, quickly jumped on board, as did her fellow Rotarians. Frank’s relationship with Jimbo Carroll, owner of Big Rack’s Processing, set the stage for the event, held at Carroll’s sprawling ranch southwest of town, and after a one-year hiatus, they hit the mark again with this third event.
The lip-smacking crowd relished the unusual fare, all generously donated and prepared by area hunters. Local businesses and generous sponsorships also helped ensure that the proceeds would benefit the allocated nonprofits.
“The Red Stag meatballs are absolutely fabulous,” said Jim Davis, himself a hunter. “They’re nicely seasoned; don’t taste gamy at all. The venison, you can tell they cooked it for a long time in oak.”
There were also bear meatballs, venison steaks, fried frog legs, quail and gator, pulled-pork sliders and, for the less adventurous, hamburger sliders and hotdogs.
“I’m old Florida – that means five generations – and that’s why I love this,” said Marcia Littlejohn, whose grandfather built the first wooden bridge from Melbourne to Indialantic in the early 1900s. “That’s why this is such fun. The music is great, the food is great; it’s old-time Florida fun.”
“And seeing all the young families is wonderful,” added Karl Zimmerman, watching as youngsters tugged at their parents, eager to not miss any of the fun.
The loud crack of a cattleman’s whip punctured the air, as cowhands showed off their prowess with the tool that gave rise to the term, “Florida Cracker.”
“Cow whips have been used to drive cattle in our state forever,” explained Rob Tripson, who with wife Tiffany had brought along several 10-footers. “They’re to drive the cattle. They don’t hit them with it; just spook ‘em forward.” He added that pre-cellphones, cowmen all had their own code, based on the number of cracks, to call out to one another.
With an almost-full moon and the twinkle of starlight lighting up the night after a gloriously fiery sunset, everyone cozied up, listening to the Crooked Creek Band, warming themselves by the fire pits and dancing up a storm.
“Elaine did a fabulous job with this; it’s just great. It’s a lot of work and a lot of energy; kudos to her,” said Noreen Davis, marketing director for The Arc, which has a capital campaign underway to raise funds for housing to support aging special needs individuals in Indian River County. “The infrastructure for the entire project is in and we have enough to start on the first building without any loans.”
The lively Rotary Club of Vero Beach Oceanside meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Indian River Shores Town Hall Community Room. www.rotaryverooceanside.org.