The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By: Rodney Brent, President Friends of Henderson Co. Wildlife
On Saturday, October 1st, the local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Friends of Henderson County Wildlife, held their Outdoorsmen Heritage Festival & Fish Fry at the New Crystal Lake Club.
The FREE event consisted of “Experience Stations” where youth and adult Outdoorsmen could obtain hands on experience with the many activities the Natural Resources in local Henderson County and the Mississippi River Valley have to offer followed by a Free Fish Fry.
Over 75 school aged kids participated in the Experience Stations which consisted of the NWTF BB Gun Shooting Range, Clay Bird Trap Shooting, Illinois Conservation Police Boat & Hunter Safety, Duck Call Training & Free DR-85 Duck Call, Waterfowl Dog Retrieving, and a Fishing Pole Casting. Local volunteers from Full Tilt Fowlers, Dead Oak Bottoms, MossyBottoms Kennels, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Straight Off The Lakes Baits helped man the Experience Stations. Following the morning completion of the Experience Stations the nearly 150 people in attendance enjoyed the Fish Fry, Free Door Prizes, and Fellowship.
In 2019 Friends of Henderson County Wildlife was founded in loving memory of the late Don “Butch” & Beverly Brent by their children. Mr. & Mrs. Brent loved all the local Natural Resources has to offer residents of Henderson County and neighboring counties. The charity organization has three key objectives which make up their E.C.O. Goals: Education, Conservation, and Outdoorsmen Heritage.
As an example, the Outdoorsmen Heritage Festival and Fish Fry is designed to Educate our future generation to insure Outdoorsmen Heritage and Conservation is carried on.
Other examples the non-profit facilitates and plans to implement locally are IL Hunter Safety Education Classes, Take A Youth Fishing Days, Butch’s Annual Virtual Bash Fishing Tournament, A local Mentor / Mentee Outdoorsmen Network, and Conservation Projects.
Friends of Henderson County Wildlife has 160 paying members who contribute to the organization in the form of an annual membership. Donations, Memorials, and Sponsorships in addition to Memberships help fund the organization which has no paid employees and operates entirely with volunteers.
It is easy to become a member by signing up to do so at https://fohcwl.fws.store/ or by emailing your interest to friendsofhcwildlife@gmail.com.
A visit to the Facebook page of Friends of Henderson County Wildlife is a great place to learn more about the efforts this non-profit group is making in Henderson County
Rodney and Lonnie Brent stand with Friends of Henderson County Wildlife at their recent Outdoorsmen Heritage Festival and Fish Fry.