The National Wild Turkey Federation’s Blaster Chapter is having its fundraising banquet on Friday, March 9 at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center at 6 p.m.

According to banquet chairman Charles Duckett, all of the NWTF’s local chapters host banquets to raise money for the organizations “super fund.” The Blaster Chapter will be auctioning and raffling off a variety of prizes, including pictures, statues and more that attendees can try to win. Each attendee 17 and under, also known as Jakes, will receive a free gift from the chapter.

“It’s a fun time,” Duckett said. “It’s a family event. We try to keep it as family-oriented as we can.”

In addition to the prizes, the banquet will be catered by Roussos Catering from Mobile.

“They do top-quality seafood,” Duckett said. “It’s not your regular hamburger and french fries type of thing.”

The Blaster Chapter has historically been one of the top fundraisers for the NWTF each year.

“The Blaster Chapter is one of the few chapters that’s been what we call a Golden Gobbler,” Duckett said. “A Golden Gobbler chapter is a chapter where at least 50 percent of the money brought in is net profit.”

The money raised goes toward the NWTF super fund before it’s reallocated to the chapters in the state.

The NWTF is a nation-wide hunting and conservation organization that was found in 1973.

Since 1985, the organization has raised more than $488 million toward its mission of conserving wildlife habitats and preserving its hunting heritage.

“For the size of this town, there’s no one in the state of Alabama that will match us on the support we get from our community and the businesses here,” Duckett said. “We wouldn’t have any of this if it wasn’t for the support of the community. The community is our backbone.”

The Blaster Chapter is excited about hosting the banquet and looking forward to helping the organization grow towards the future. According to Duckett, the chapter is encouraged by the increase in younger members.

“It’s going to be sold out, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “We always stay excited.”

Tickets for the banquet can be purchased at the NWTF website by searching for the Blaster Chapter in the Events section. Sponsor tickets are available for $315 each. Tickets are $90 for couples, $65 for a single ticket and $25 for Jakes.

“We want everyone to know that it’s a family-oriented event and the money raised is going to a very worth-while cause,” Duckett said. “And it’s going to be fun for everyone that is there.”