Wild Beast Feast raises $16,500

By Carrie A. Mizell

Delicious food, fellowship with friends and the chance to raise scholarship money for local high school seniors drew 1,000 people to the Gilchrist County FFA Alumni Arena on Friday night for the 18th Annual Wild Beast Feast.
Tiffany Turner, secretary or the Education Foundation of Gilchrist County, said on Tuesday morning that $16,500 in profit had been generated through this year’s Wild Beast Feast.

Trenton Middle School students Shelby Stokes and Otis Ware, Jr.

Monies raised at the Beast Feast were down this year from $21,000 in 2010. According to Turner, the event lost several major sponsors this year who typically offset around $3,000 in costs. Fewer tickets for the event were also sold in 2011, Turner explained.
“The economy really hurt us this year,” Turner said.

Gilchrist County paramedic Jarrod Hammond selects a dessert as
Donna Hayes of the Gilchrist County Woman’s Club cuts brownie squares.

Over the last four years the Wild Beast Feast has generated around $20,000 each year, which goes toward scholarships for high school seniors at both Trenton and Bell schools, as well as mini-grants for Gilchrist County teachers.
Each year, the Wild Beast Feast and the Walk-a-thon serve as the Education Foundation’s primary fundraisers. In February, this year’s Walk-a-thon raised $11,000.
According to Turner, 70 high school seniors have submitted an application for a college scholarship this year.
The 2011 Wild Beast Feast drew a crowd of hungry supporters from throughout the tri-county area. Game cooks and volunteers from throughout the community worked tirelessly for several days leading up to the Wild Beast Feast preparing a variety of game and fowl.