By Susan Monteleone
LUMBERLAND — November 18, 2003 – It is now in its 18th year, still going strong and getting bigger than ever.
On Saturday, more than 100 people competed in the Lumberland Fire Department’s Annual Turkey Shoot.
Organizer and Lumberland F.D. member Don Kaufman explained the contest.
“It is really simple to do,” he said. “We take an 8-by-11 [inch] piece of paper and draw an ‘X’ on it and the participant that shoots closest to the center of the ‘X’ wins a 15 to 20 lb. turkey. We also have a bottle shoot where the participant can win a bottle of holiday cheer.”
“This event now has hunting clubs coming back year after year to challenge one another as well as hunters who come back and compete,” Kaufman added. “It is always held the day before hunting season and it is a great way for the hunters to practice and to get into the hunting mood.”
Kaufman also gave credit to sponsors The Millbrook of Pond Eddy, which donated all the holiday cheer bottles, Tri State Diesel, which donated all the ammunition for the day, and Ed Giancontieri, who repaired any broken guns at the event at no charge.
“These three sponsors have been a part of this event for many years and they are a real big part of today and we could not do it without them,” Kaufman said.
He added that all of the proceeds from the day’s events, including the food and shoot, go towards the purchase of new equipment for the firehouse, fireman training and maintenance.
Kaufman also gave thanks to the local merchants who donated items, including a turkey fryer and a wheel-barrel full of tools, for the event.
This year the Lumberland F. D. was planning to give out 13 turkeys as well as numerous other prizes.