2024 Kicking Bear Banquet Wisconsin
By Kevin Bonnar
On May 9th we held our annual Wisconsin Kicking Bear Banquet at the Omni Center in Onalaska, WI. We were so blessed by how many folks stepped up to purchase tables and tickets, we had over 800 people in attendance! We were also incredibly blessed by so many amazing sponsors who donated products and time to help make the event so much fun for those who attended. We also could not have done it without the amazing team of volunteers and families who helped make it all happen. Thank you!
This year we recognized a few folks from the Kicking Bear family who have really gone above and beyond in serving others. Our Cheerful Giver award went to Chad and Tammy Dutton this year. Chad and Tammy have been mentoring and volunteering with Kicking Bear for many years. They are the champions for our West Salem Camp and I have never been on a youth hunt without at least one of the Duttons along. They are so generous with their time and they love pouring into the youth, thank you Chad and Tammy!
We added a new honor called the Full Circle Award this year and it was presented to Kaylie Bass. Kaylie has been in the Kicking Bear family since signing up with mentor Abbi Burke years ago. She has completed the hunting trifecta of harvesting a deer, bear and turkey as well as volunteering with her family at many of our events. Kaylie has now graduated on to being a junior mentor herself and helped guide kiddos on last fall’s deer hunt and this spring’s turkey hunt. Kaylie has come full circle in Kicking Bear and is an inspiration for us all, thank you Kaylie!
One of the best parts of the evening was when we called up all the youth hunters and presented them with deer, turkey and bear mounts! The size of the smiles said it all and hearing the memories that were made on the hunting trips were a great reminder of how God has used Kicking Bear to change lives for over 25 years now. Very thankful!
Check out our Banquet Video this year, we interviewed four Kicking Bear moms! Banquet Video 2024
A huge thank you to all of our sponsors and supporters for another great banquet. Thanks to you we are able to keep all of our events, camps, youth hunts and mentorship opportunities 100% free for families.
Next year’s banquet date is Thursday, May 1st, 2025 in Onalaska, WI!!