I am sitting here typing and listening to the wind howling outside, and already my mind is thinking about an upcoming banquet. Now this banquet features succulent porkchops and juicy ribeyes along with baked beans, cheesy potatoes, tossed salad, brownies, lemonade and coffee.

Yes, I got the info on the Pheasants Forever annual banquet that will be held March 7 at the Met. The doors open at 5 p.m., the meal will be eaten at 6 p.m., and the auction will start at 7 p.m. The format will be like it was last year with a live and a silent auction along with some exciting raffles. This year's dinner gun will be a Browning Maxus 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun. This is a fine firearm. Raffle tickets for this shotgun and also a DPMS .223 cal semi-automatic rifle can be purchased prior to and during the banquet.

Pheasants Forever is a great organization. What I like about them is how they give back to the local area, especially the youth. I will cite some examples. On March 2-3, Pheasants Forever partners up with the Met in hosting an Illinois Hunters' Safety program. All of our youth need this course in order to get their hunting license.

They have sponsored live pheasant hunts in the spring and fall. This spring's hunt will be March 23. Ringnecks will sign up at the banquet.