Earlville conservation Club Big Buck Contest participants: Kyle Burgess, Trevor Reed, Josh Orth, Laura Rodman, Andy Migonis, Troy Fleming. (Submitted photo)

EARLVILLE – The Earlville Conservation Club held their Annual Big Buck Contest and Chicken-n-Biscuit dinner on January 28 at the Sherburne Legion.

Officers were nominated and elected: President: Andy Migonis, Vice President: Art Fleming, Treasurer: Jacob Bohnert, Secretary: Betsy Campbell.

The meeting highlighted events held during the year; pheasant releases, trap shoots, our 6th Annual Youth Fishing Derby [Labor Day Sunday]. The group's 1st annual Youth Deer Hunt on Columbus Day weekend.

The club was grateful to have two guest speakers for the evening; local DEC officer Ricardo Grisolini and Veteran Ralph Meyer.

DEC Grosolini conveyed thanks to clubs such as ours- getting the word out about how DEC helps conservation, dealing with infractions, and new laws. He was able to share clarification on some of those new laws as well as gain insight from us regarding them.

A final important point Ricardo impressed upon us was: if you see something not right, or need DEC help- call them directly. Calling 911 doesn’t work in these types of cases. A complete listing of Region 7 ECOs and Sector maps of the entire NYS regions are available on the DEC website; https://www.dec.ny.gov/about/558.html

Veteran Ralph Meyer was gracious enough to share his Honor Flight experience. He began by thanking the veterans present on this evening for their service.

The Honor Flight is something all veterans should experience, and this day trip is given to veterans free of charge, regardless of any restrictions or conditions one may have or which branch of the service you represent.

Included within this trip to Washington DC are: Meals and endless water, 1st class transportation and police escorts, water/bathroom breaks, color-coded Tshirts to help keep track of the group and time.

You are not rushed at the various stops visited on this trip. Each flight holds 80 vets, 80 guardians, two nurses, volunteers. Veterans are greeted by a whole contingent from all branches welcoming you and thanking you; a band is playing, valet, plane was decorated, and airports are packed with welcoming people. A vet can go 1x and all vets are invited to complete the form. Every vet gets a handmade quilt when they return.

Veterans can have served in any war, any conflict, any service. Application process takes about 1 year. You can donate to the cause locally; there are Honor flights out of: Syracuse & Binghamton.

Finally, we presented the winners of our big buck contest. We had several members enter the contest this year. We extend a big thank you to Andy Migonis, and Jim Dowd for scoring the racks for the club. The successful big buck recipients are:

Big Buck Contest Winners

We extend a big thank you to Jim Dowd, Paul Orth, Sam Walrod and Andy Migonis for scoring the racks for the club. Successful big buck recipients are:

1. Trevor Reed

2. Kaleb Burgess

3. Laura Rodman

4. Kyle Burgess

5. Troy Fleming

6. Dan Houseman

NA Josh Orth

NA Lynn Compton

Some of the events sponsored by the club include trout release, annual kids fishing derby, trap shots, and the annual big buck contest.  Yearly memberships cost $10/adult & $5/youth [16 & under].  Please contact Betsy Campbell for further information; [607]226-1673.