The Northwest Colorado Sportsman’s Banquet returns Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Boys & Girls Club of Craig, as it carries forward a two-decade tradition of supporting local youth who are interested in outdoor pursuits by putting decision-making and funding in local hands. 

The event begins with a social hour at 5 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m.

Dinner this year features catering by Oasis Bar & Grill operators Nick and Karen Maneotis. 

What began roughly 20 years ago as the Craig chapter of Friends of National Rifle Association has evolved into a homegrown effort in the form of Heritage Fundraising, which is a 501(c)(3) that was created to keep proceeds and decision-making within the community. The group’s leadership noted that despite the shift away from the NRA, the mission to fund youth programs, and outdoor education while strengthening the ties that bind Moffat County, remains the same.

“This has been a great learning experience to rebuild at a grassroots level,” said JB Chapman of Chapman’s Automotive, who now chairs the banquet committee. “Once folks heard what it was and where we are today, they didn’t care about the label. They were here for the right reasons, which were to support our youth and their pursuits in the outdoors.”

For years, the local banquet operated under a national package of auction items, insurance and purchasing rules. That structure changed as national policies shifted how funds were pooled and dispersed, said longtime organizer and shooting sports coach Wade Gerber.

Gerber entered the fundraising effort after working to secure annual grants for 4-H shotgun, an event where costs for ammo and equipment can be a barrier for some. He served on the committee alongside other instrumental members like Virginia Pugh. When Gerber recently decided to step back as he launched a distillery, Chapman made the decision to step in.

“The nice part now is that instead of spending all that money with a national package, we can go to local vendors for prizes and supplies,” Gerber said. “It keeps more of the money in circulation here in town. Overall, it’s a much better fit for Craig and the kids.”

The local turn also broadens where and how funds can be applied. 

Chapman said organizers are exploring ways to support firearms safety and hunter education in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club, opening doors for youth who might not otherwise have access.

“We’ll have guidelines on where funds go, but the goal of creating a local legacy is the same,” he said. “We’re passing on to the next generation and doing it with local decision-making for local benefit.”

Attendance has ebbed and flowed over time. Gerber recalled a high near 270 seated diners, though recent years have seen numbers around 180. Despite the shifts, the organization’s fundraising formula and common purpose remain similar to the original event.

Organizers expect 30 to 35 live auction items, about half of which are firearms, alongside locally donated goods in both the live and silent auctions. A crowd-favorite is the “bucket” drawings, which are 40-plus packages of hats, tow straps, gift cards, tickets and fun experiences. At the door, a “$100 table” offers 12 tickets for a 1-in-12 drawing on a featured firearm. The “Guns N’ Roses” game pairs a rose purchase with a ticket, which both Gerber and Chapman said is a nod to date night as much as fundraising. The gun safe giveaway returns this year as well, which often comes with a “surprise” inside.

“It’s a Yampa Valley event,” Chapman said. “We’ve got card games, fun packages, a lively auction and a lot of community pride in one room.”

Behind the scenes, the pivot from a national package to a locally built auction increased the workload while also increasing the sense of local control. 

“It took a lot of communication and more boots on the ground,” Chapman said. “The encouraging thing is young people in their 30s are already asking to serve next year. They love what this has done for the community and want to carry the torch.”

Within the shift, Gerber sees the payoff in the faces of young shooters. He has coached shotgun for 18 years and estimates he worked with about 75 kids. For him, it’s not just about smiles and the sense of accomplishment, it’s about an outcome that involves fostering stewardship, responsibility and leadership. 

He added that Moffat and Routt counties continue to send strong contingents to shooting competitions. 

“I’d guess somewhere around 20 kids from Moffat County have gone to national finals across the shooting sports,” he said. “It’s something to be proud of.”

Organizers say the same qualities that help kids succeed in the field including responsibility, consistency and peer connection, translates into success in the classroom and community as well.

“These programs are tools to develop well-rounded, productive citizens,” Chapman said. “Peer-to-peer interaction matters. When you give kids responsibility, whether that’s safe firearms handling or showing up for practice, you’re training tomorrow’s leaders.”

The night itself is deliberately family-friendly, with youth games and drawings running alongside the local 4-H club handling bussing tables and cleanup as part of its annual service project. 

“They take ownership,” Gerber said. “The first year they asked what to do and now they’re spot on and have it all figured out.”

Local businesses remain key from donated items to in-kind support. Murdoch’s of Craig, for example, helps make the annual gun safe giveaway possible and distributors such as Wild Wings work with the committee on auction firearms that fit a community fundraiser.

For Chapman, the deeper meaning behind the event is linked to place. 

“Whenever we make Moffat County decisions for Moffat County, Moffat County wins,” he said. “The Yampa Valley has become a great place to work together and we’re grateful we get to pass on who we are to our children and grandchildren.”

A cash bar will be available. Individual tickets and sponsored tables are on sale and organizers say seats are moving quickly. Payment by cash, check or credit card is accepted.

For more information, or to buy tickets, call JB Chapman at 970-846-2671, Wade Gerber at 970-629-2305, or Craig Rummel at 970-824-7538.