Ensuring the Future

by Paige Culver

WSF Development Manager

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD

With any luck, the title of this article will encapsulate the feelings of everyone who was able to make it back to Reno this year. (It may also unintentionally result in that song being stuck in your head for the rest of the day… I’m sorry about that part.) The last two years of uncertainty and frustration had all of us longing for some semblance of familiarity. This year we were determined, despite additional challenges, to have our Sheep Family reunion—also known as Sheep Show® . As usual, the WSF staff were steady and steeled for whatever obstacles would head our way and we marched forward knowing that the prize would be the gathering of old friends, making new ones, and raising money for wild sheep. Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or in the White House, apparently) the supply chain and labor shortages will come as no surprise to you. While the challenges we face seem to change from year to year, the one thing that remains a constant is our members’ willingness to show up in a major way. You show up for us, one another, and for wild sheep. The evening banquets were a blast, as usual, and together we were once again able to pull off one of the greatest conservation expos in the world and raise some serious dollars for wild sheep conservation. We are blown away by the commitment of our membership to the cause.

In addition to auctions, raffles, etc. our Marco Polo Society membership hit a milestone 75-member mark! This fiscal year we have added six new $100,000 dollar Marco Polo Society donors! We are getting so close to our 100-member goal for MPS. This giving society alone is now solely responsible for contributing $7.5 million to mission and program funding! WOW! We cordially invite you to be one of the FINAL 25 members in this 100-member campaign. (See full MPS listing on page 21)

Our Chadwick Ram Society welcomed several new members and benefited from MANY upgrades from existing members. The Chadwick Ram Society has benefactor levels ranging from a $2,500 commitment or $250 annually for 10 years on up to a $50,000 commitment or $5,000 annually over a 10-year period. The pledge total from CRS members alone has reached a whopping ~$3.1 million dollars, of which, more than $2 million has been received and put toward “Putting and Keeping Wild Sheep on the Mountain®!” Our Chadwick Ram Society exclusive sheep hunt drawing will take place again this year on June 30th! We are so lucky to be working with our friends at Sierra El Alamo on this year’s CRS sheep hunt. The 2022 CRS winner will win a fully guided one-on-one hunt with Sierra El Alamo. (Full CRS listing can be found on page 18, flier for CRS drawing on page187.)

Finally, we added three new members to our Legacy Society. Legacy Society members pledge a gift or bequest by remembering WSF in their will or estate planning. These dedicated members are integral to our ability to continue to do critical conservation work in perpetuity, guaranteeing that WSF will be around for generations to come.

The accolades don’t stop there! This year we had an anonymous donor step forward, pledging to match up to $100,000 in contributions to the Endowment Fund! Our membership answered that challenge in full force, and through this matching campaign alone, we were able to put ~$220,000 into our Endowment Fund within the short span of a few months.

This year’s Sheep Show®, although very different, has been like so many in years past; full of smiling faces, great stories, gut wrenching laughter, a handful of tears, but most importantly, a coming together under the same banner for the benefit of wild sheep and wild places. I love this Sheep Family. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for continuing to show up for each other, for us and supporting our efforts to “Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®.” WS

For more information on the Wild Sheep Foundation’s giving societies or to make a donation, please contact WSF Development Manager, Paige Culver at 406-404-8758 or pculver@ wildsheepfoundation.org.

WSF’s Legacy Society recognizes individuals, families and foundations making testamentary bequests or contributions of major gifts, gift annuities or other charitable-giving instruments. Since inception of the Ensuring the Future of Wild Sheep (ETFOWS) campaign, 42 Legacy Society members have been recognized through WSF’s Legacy Society for contributions or pledges of future gifts. Bequests made through the New Beginnings Campaign* or other bequests may be recognized through the Legacy Society by contacting WSF. For more information on the Legacy Society or Estate Planning resources available through WSF, please contact Paige Culver at 406.404.8758 or PCulver@WildSheepFoundation.org.

Anonymous Anonymous Lee & Penny Anderson Jack, Jr. & Cindy Atcheson Derek W.O. Berry Mike Borel Cabela’s Outdoor Fund Rick & Heather Carosone Dr. Robert W. & Cynthia Cassell David & Sona Combs Monty & Becky Davis Howard & Mary Deters Doug & Patty Dreeszen Buddy DuVall Tom Grimes Eric & Sue Hansen Robert & Arlene Hanson Dr. Paul F. & Kathy J. Havey John R. & Mary Ann Justus Blair A. & Victoria M. Kenewell Robert M. Martin, Jr. Roger McCosker Kyle & Joanne Meintzer Chuck Middleton David Mode Brad R. Plaga Robert L. & J.P. Puette Kevin & Janine Rinke Lanny Rominger Louis & Pauline Rupp SCI Foundation - Hunter Legacy Fund (HLF-100) Roger Segebrecht Kasie and Jason Sheridan Tim & Roxane Shinabarger Steve & Sue Skold Curt & Marcia Thompson Gray & Renée Thornton Jim Travis Tim & Ruth Van Der Weide The Estate of Robert B. Johnson Wayne W. Webber The William H. Donner Foundation, Inc

*New Beginnings Campaign was the FNAWS Capital Endowment Campaign conducted 1998-2003.

NEED ONE MORE SHEEP TO COMPLETE YOUR F.N.A.W.S.?

Bernie Fiedeldey has once again generously offered to match donations (up to $25,000) to the “1 MORE FOR 4” drawing for a FREE sheep hunt of qualifi ed individuals needing one more ram to complete their Four North American Wild Sheep (F.N.A.W.S.)

2022 1MF4 SPONSORS

Bernie Fiedeldey Darin & Tonya Fiedeldey Charles & Denise Swanson Darla Fiedeldey Kevin Gilbert Leon Phillips Jeff Haynie Midwest Chapter WSF Kris Kohlhoff Richard Pierce Renee Snider David & Sona Combs Kip & Sue Slaugh Washington WSF Eastern Chapter WSF

You can help keep the tradition going for the 2023 Convention “1 MORE FOR 4” Drawing and have your contribution matched by Bernie (up to $25,000.)

Our sincere appreciation to Bernie Fiedeldey and the “1 MORE FOR 4” participants for making this drawing and hunt of a lifetime possible!