36th annual Ducks Unlimited banquet this Saturday at Du Quoin's SI Center

The idea for Ducks Unlimited was born by the winds that created the Dust Bowl. Untold acres of wetland habitat vanished in the 1930s, taking with them the promise of generations of waterfowl. In 1937, a small group of conservationists who realized that the majority of North America's waterfowl breed in the Canadian prairies, organized to raise money in the United States for waterfowl conservation in Canada.

It was the unique idea that became Ducks Unlimited.

The 36th annual Du Quoin Ducks Unlimited banquet will be held this Saturday at the Southern Illinois Center at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. The great dinner will be served between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. with the live auction starting a 7 p.m.

There will be both live and silent auctions for some extraordinary items--commemorative guns, Ducks Unlimited limited edition prints, wildlife stamps and more.

Tickets are still available and they are selling for $45 per person, $60 per couple. If you want to be a banquet sponsor the cost is $300, which comes with a lot of benefits.

Waterfowl conservation is the ultimate stewardship and there is no one better to help organize this banquet than Will Kremer (318-1412), son of Roger and April Kremer. It's an evening you will never forget.