2012 Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation banquet

Five-time Olympic shooter Kim Rhode with Bruce Culpepper

The spirit of Teddy Roosevelt lives on!

The 23rd annual banquet and auction billed as a celebration of America's Sporting Heritage was held by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) on Sept. 19. Another part of the mission of CSF is to protect, support and inspire and the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts. CSF President Jeff Crane welcomed his distinguished board members, and members of the Congressional Sportsman Caucus to the event, while a color guard presented the American flag. A game supper was served to those at the Hyatt on Capital Hill including rainbow trout and bison sirloin. Special thanks to John Doerr of Pure Fishing (remarks at AFWA), and Jeff Angers,  for hosting this visitor from the Lowcountry. An amazing silent auction saw unique sporting items from around the country, like the custom box call and display case from an Illinois outfitter that one lucky patron got to take home. Firearms, archery equipment, fishing rods and reels were available, and the crowd of sporting enthusiasts made hearty bids in support of the CSF. When it came to the live auction, only the top tier hunts were offered, like a two-day hunt for quail, pheasant and chukar to Nilo Farms - that's Winchester Ammo's hunt camp!! Some faces in the crowd this night included Dan Ashe, Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Pat Murray of CCA, Paul Schmidt of DU, Laramy 'Sasquatch' Miller from Outdoor TV, Jeff Angers from Center for Coastal Conservation, Robert Model from Boone and Crockett, Bruce Culpepper from Shell Oil, and five-time Olympic shooting medalist Kim Rhode stood out with her Gold medal from the 2012 London Olympics! The CSF annual banquet charges attendees to go back to their jobs and endeavor to share the experience of the great outdoors with others, and especially the next generation, to secure the future of our sporting heritage.

Pat Murray, Congressman David Rivera (Fla.), and Jeff Angers

To read an economic data report on sportsman generated funds from the CSF click here.

Custom waterfowl calls were inside this decorative box