President's Message
We had a wonderful Weatherby Gala celebration in Dallas on January 4 where we were delighted to see so many friends both new and old gathered without masks to witness the bestowal of the highest honor in the hunting world to a most deserving recipient in the person of Dr. Bradford T. Black. Dr. Black’s phenomenal accomplishments in conservation and in trophy collection around the world are beyond noteworthy and excellent. It was both inspiring and touching to hear the accolades given by our Board member Wilson Stout and Dr. Black’s wife Sharon during the presentation ceremony. This was a night to remember!
In addition to the Weatherby Award presentation and a fantastic time to connect with friends we also held our fundraising auction and raffle which provide the financial horsepower for maintaining our strong presence in providing monetary grants to worthy individuals and organizations that will further our Mission Statement “to educate youth and the non-hunting public on the beneficial role of ethical sport hunting and its contribution to wildlife conservation, and to protect our constitutional right to do so.” We give a big thank you to the bidders and winners of our raffle and auction items-you picked up some marvelous prizes and at the same time provided energy and power to our cause. This all would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our Executive Administrator Cass Olmstead, Kameron Bybee, our auction Committee Jay Link and Craig Willis, our generous donors, our wonderful corporate sponsors, Weatherby board members, and all the individuals who bought tickets and tables. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who had a part in making the Gala a success! When we are all pulling in the same direction we can do wonders!
Although the memories of the 2023 Gala are still vivid in our minds it is none too early to mark our calendars for the next award Gala which will be held Wednesday January 10, 2024 at the Omni Hotel before the start of the 2024 DSC convention. Banquet registration will open in the summer of 2023. Be sure to be there because we need you in our cause. The anti-gun and anti-hunting forces never rest as they assault our constitutional freedoms and hunting traditions, seeking to spread their propaganda to susceptible minds both young and old. Proverbs 22:6 KJV states “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Giving our youth a solid foundation is such an important part of our mission and we thank you all for partnering with us in this journey!
Peter A. Larsen, M.D.
