MANTI—The Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) Sanpete County Chapter held its annual banquet and fundraiser on Friday, Jan. 30, at the Fairgrounds Event Center in Manti, bringing together outdoor enthusiasts for an evening of community, conservation and generosity.

SFW is a Utah-based nonprofit organization with nearly 8,000 members dedicated to wildlife conservation and habitat protection. The organization raises funds through banquets, tag auctions, and other initiatives, with proceeds supporting habitat enhancement, wildlife management programs and educational opportunities across the state.

In Sanpete County, SFW has funded several local projects, including a moose reproduction study, a sandhill crane count, and a partnership with Snow College to raise and release pheasants into Wildlife Management Areas for local hunters.

“This year we were able to release twice as many birds onto WMAs as have been released in the past,” said Chad Dewey, a Snow College natural resources faculty member and local SFW organizer. “Raising and releasing these birds also gave college students interested in natural resources an opportunity for hands-on education.”

Beyond wildlife work, the banquet showcased the county’s spirit of giving. A gun donated to support a local family in need was purchased, donated back and auctioned again multiple times throughout the evening.

“This happened six or seven times, until we raised over $21,000 for this family,” Dewey said. “It was awe-inspiring for me to be able to see the generosity of this great group of people.”

The Sanpete County Chapter banquet reflects SFW’s primary missions of promoting wildlife habitat, educating the public about hunters’ role in conservation, and perpetuating the family tradition of hunting and fishing.