Well guys, thanks for the good whippin' but maybe if you knew more about how this contest is put together you might understand things better. This was our first year to have the big bull part of the contest and we are in our infant stages of it. We go out and raise all of the money that we can and get all of the prizes that we can through donations and from peoples good will, and the rest we buy. Everything in the auction part of the contest is money earned for the next years contest. We make very little money on this event after you consider all of the costs involved and most if not all money is earned on beer sales. For a $35.00 ticket you get a free Bar-B-Q and a chance to look at some good bucks and bulls. And if you have a good buck or bull you could win a good prize. After talking to Jack yesturday I learned that we did not have as many prizes for the bull category as we have traditionally had for the deer category. So in Jacks mind he figured that the Bull head mount is worth anywhere from $700.00 to $1,500.00 and decided that the 1st place winner should have the most valuable prize because the rifle is worth about $400.00 to $500.00. The all you can drink beer mug was something Gregg Faux wanted over anything else so because Quentin lives in Reno, Jack figured that he would never have a chance to use it and awarded it to Gregg. We never stated up front that the first place prize would be divided up due to not having enough prizes. So we took the complaints in to account and realized that you guys had a valid point and we should have given Quentin all 3 prizes. Jack has stepped up to the plate and apologized to Quentin and will award him the full amount of the first place prize. We made a mistake and are acknowledging that fact and are trying to fix that mistake. As far as insinuating that Kenda wanted the rifle out of greediness is incorrect and wrong. Kenda also felt that Quentin should have gotten the rifle and if we could not for some unseen reason get it to him was going to donate it for next years contest. So it did not go wrong out of greed or shadieness but out of pure screw up.
As far as the kids category goes, that was my screw up. Looking back to when I was grabbing prizes for the winners Jack told me that if I wanted to we could go as high as 6th place. But in the hustle of getting the 1st place rifles in order I forgot to get prizes together for those spots. And to be honest, I figured hastily, what was wrong with 3 winners. NVNative79 corresponded with me in an e-mail about how he felt that we do not have a youth rifle, youth archery and youth muzzy category and that we have more adult categories than youth categories but we always say its about the kids. Well what can I say except for he is right! So I personally apologize for not thinking of that. What it boils down to is that we should have made all of these decisions before the contest and we should have had our ducks in a row which we did not so mistakes were made. But we are not shady and greedy and if anything we are trying to have a good event with the best of intentions. I feel like you guys made a very valid point about the youth with the archery buck and if we had a 4th place he would of had a prize. Well its my turn to step up to the plate and I will find out who the kid is and give him a $100.00 gift certificate out of my pocket to be used somewhere in Elko.
As far as a muzzleloader category goes, it was deleted because of lack of entries and that is why it was added to the rifle category. Maybe one day we will make that category again but I don't see it in the next few years. We will probably concentrate more on the youth categories before we concentrate on more adult categories due to feedback from you guys. We only have a certain amount of donations and head mounts and buy most of our big prizes. Which brings me to another point. The Taxidermists that donate have gone above and beyond to help us out with donated prizes. I'm speaking about Gary Powell of North Slope Taxidermy who has donated since the early beginnings of our contest. Every year he donates several head mounts and Badlands backpacks and he stepped it up even further this year with more donations than ever before. Also, Al Harris of Rack Em Up Taxidermy has also proven that he wants to donate and give to the community and has gone out of his way to donate to our contest and give head mounts for prizes in this contest. I ask you to consider giving these guys your bussiness when you have a head mount. They have given considerable amounts of thier time and efforts to give you guys and your kids head mounts when you are the winners.
So why am I giving you this long and drawn out explanation? Because I respect you guys and your opinions and like to look at this as positive feedback. No matter who you are or what bussiness you owne, its easy for people to sit on the sidelines and find fault but in this case it was not for ones owne gain but for the concern of ones friend and the youth involved. This I can honor and respect. The only bad part was being accused of shadieness and dishonesty because I feel that over 11 years of putting on this contest all of us that are associated with it have done nothing but give to the community and anyone in his right mind can see that greedieness is not what drives us. Also, I hate to make this a thing about money, but IT IS about money. The more we have, the more categories and prizes we can give.
One more thing. This event takes quite a bit of time to set up and take down. Almost a full day on Friday to set it up and almost a full day on Sunday to tear it down and clean up. Anybody who is interested in helping us do this is welcome to help out. I will welcome you with open arms. You can either sit on the sidelines and complain or you can help us make this event better and any help given would be greatly appreciated. fatrooster.