By ELLEN MORTENSEN
Chief Managing Editor    

    For the fourth consecutive year, friends of the Mid-Nebraska NRA packed the Broken Bow Municipal Auditorium to show their support for the fund-raising efforts of the committee.
    Committee chairman Ray Hunt explained that proceeds from the event benefit youth education and safety programs, range development, conservation efforts and many other qualified educational programs in Nebraska nd Custer County.
  

    An average crowd of 325 has attended the event each year since it began in 2004, earning the committee the distinction of having the highest attendance in the state. The event has also raised in excess of $25,000 each year, achieving “high caliber” status.
    The Mid-Nebraska NRA has achieved the highest net revenue  in Nebraska with their banquet each year, and rank fifth in the nation in efficiency. And while the members of the organization are very proud of these achievements, they are most proud of the benefits they are able to offer as a result of the funds raised at the banquet.
    Hunts says approximately $16,000 was raised at last year’s event. About half of that money stays in Nebraska, with a good share of it coming back to Custer County. Grants awarded in Custer County with last year’s funds include:
    •Middle Loup 4-H Shooting Club, Sargent
    • Boy Scouts of America, Troop #48, Broken Bow
    • Litchfield Public Schools, Shooting Program, Litchfield
    • Broken Bow Police Depart-ment, Broken Bow
    • Burr Oak 4-H Club, Broken Bow
    • Four Valleys 4-H Club, Broken Bow
    One of the programs sponsored by the organization is the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program; a gun-accident prevention program for children ages kindergarten through third grade. The program teaches children what to do should they come into contact with a gun in an unsupervised situation.
    Funding from the banquet is used to provide Eddie Eagle curriculum materials free of charge to schools, law enforcement agencies, hospitals, daycare centers and libraries across Nebraska.
    Funds are raised at the banquet through the sale of tickets for the Prime Rib dinner, raffles, and silent and live auctions. Hunt explained that items for the auction are purchased in a package from the national headquarters, then underwritten by local sponsoring businesses to offset the cost to the local committee.
    “It’s amazing how people come out to support youth firearms educations,” Hunt said. “The sponsors and underwriters deserve a big thanks - but mostly it is the people who come. Without them we wouldn’t have anything.”
    Hunt addressed those attending the event with this statement; “Most importantly, funds raised this evening will foster safe firearm use and responsible firearm ownership, as well as teach Second Amendment education and protect freedom for future generations to come.”
    Other members of the Mid-Nebraska Friends of NRA committee include Randy Peterson, vice-chairman, Wendi Glendy, secretary, Adam Glendy, treasurer, Gary Lawrence, FFL dealer, Dahl “Ace” Jungren, merchandise contact, and members Matthew Haumont, Rich Zierlein, David and Debra Haumont and Rod Palmer.