Ducks Unlimited places oysters
on its bill of fare for event
By Frank Ruggiero
Birds of a feather flock together.
The High Country Ducks Unlimited and Appalachian State Ducks Unlimited
chapters are joining efforts to host the third annual Oyster Roast
and Barbecue on Friday, April 24.
The event will be held at the Foscoe Grandfather Community Center,
located at 233 Park Road in Banner Elk (off of N.C. 105 in Foscoe).
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7 p.m.
Ducks Unlimited is an organization devoted to the conservation
of wetlands and waterfowl, and its N.C. Sound CARE (Conservation
of Agriculture, Resources and the Environment) program is described
as an effort “to protect, restore and enhance wetlands in
North Carolina and the breeding areas that are most important
to waterfowl wintering in North Carolina.”
Statistics show that North Carolina has lost more than 50 percent
of its wetlands, while the entire nation used to have 400 million
acres of wetlands. Today, there are less than 200 million.
According to Sound CARE, between 1974 and 1983, North Carolina
lost 1.2 million wetland acres, which is the equivalent of 250
football fields being lost every day for 10 years. Since Ducks
Unlimited came to North Carolina in 1984, more than 40,000 acres
have been conserved.Though Ducks Unlimited is commonly mistaken
for an organization devoted solely to duck hunters, High Country
chapter chairman Scott Farfone begged to differ.
“It’s all for wetland conservation, which has to do
with everything outdoors, whether you hunt, fish, hike or bird
watch,” he said, in a previous interview.
Advanced tickets for the banquet are on sale and cost $25 for
a single and $45 for a couple. If tickets are purchased at the
event, they cost $30 per person and $50 per couple.
Ticket price includes oysters, barbecue catered by Sledgehammer
Charlie’s in Blowing Rock, beer and wine, live music, a live
and silent auction, and a year’s membership to Ducks Unlimited.
Live auction items include a paid vacation to Alaska and a local
fly-fishing trip, while silent auction items include artwork and
other Ducks Unlimited collectibles. Raffle prizes come courtesy
of local businesses, from hunting gear to decoys.
For more information or to reserve advanced tickets, call Foscoe
Fishing Company at (828) 963-6556 or the Appalachian State Ducks
Unlimited chapter at (803) 240-5665.
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