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Wild Game Dinner Serves a Multitude

   Written by on March 6, 2015 at 12:31 pm

Riverside Community Church continues to reach out to the community with arms open wide. This year marked the 9th annual fellowship gathering known as the Wild Game Dinner and it was a huge success. The dinner was hosted by the church for nearly 700 people in the STEPS factory warehouse. For Saturday evening the warehouse was transformed into a giant banquet hall for guests to enjoy a time of fellowship and some of the best wild game dishes to be found in the area. Additionally, corporate sponsorship from local and out of town businesses made it possible for guests to get in on some special fun for the evening.

Ayers Building and Supply of Farmville sponsored a silent auction table and the impressive “Wall of Guns” that reached some twelve feet in the air. Raffle tickets were on sale all evening for the chance to win firearms that ranged from a Beretta ARX 160 to a Desert Eagle Arms Baby Desert Eagle, and all in between. In fact, Keysville local Larry Shook, owner of Larry’s Auto Parts and Keysville Exxon, won the most coveted gun of the occasion: a custom built AR-15 semi- automatic rifle.

Other special interests included the works of northwest Pennsylvania artist Jack Paluh. His signature detailed paintings of wildlife and Native Americans on the hunt were mesmerizing to some visitors as they were prompted to find the hidden details in his work.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, with whom Riverside Church maintains a strong relationship, was instrumental to the evening’s success as well, providing organizers with flyers, wildlife literature, carry bags and other amenities. There were some admirable examples of taxidermy on display as well.

The centerpiece of the evening, however, was the food. True to its name, the menu included  dishes such as wild boar, quail hash, venison burgers, venison chili and steamed spiced shrimp. Shorty Osborne of the Fishin’ Pig in Farmville donated his expertise in the kitchen as well in the form of a big batch of fried catfish.

After dinner, everybody had the opportunity to listen to guest outdoorsman speaker Charles Davidson. A retired Air Force colonel, he shared his experiences and his own special message of salvation to the audience.

In a short telephone interview with Riverside Community Church Pastor Frank Lacey, he said, “The whole reason we do this is to make people aware that God loves us all. The outdoors is God’s creation and so are we. It is a great way to bridge a gap that otherwise might just get wider.” The commitment is clear. Riverside Church is also responsible for the annual Outdoor Festival at the fairgrounds in Farmville on the last weekend in August. Set your calendars now!

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