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Adams Outdoorsmen For Youth Celebrate 40 Years
By Jack Guerino, iBerkshires Staff
03:27PM / Monday, March 14, 2016
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More than 300 people packed into the Eagles Hall last week for the annual game dinner.

The group is celebrating 40 years of introducing local youth to the great outdoors.

On the menu were bear meatballs, rabbit, smoked salmon, moose, elk, black bear teriyaki, and chili.

State Rep. Gailanne Cariddi with past presidents of the Adams Outdoorsmen for Youth.


NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Adams Outdoorsmen for Youth celebrated 40 years of supporting youth events and scholarships throughout the region at their annual game dinner last week.

More than 300 people trailed into the Eagles Hall on a recent Saturday night to chow down on delicacies one most likely would not be able to find in the local market.

President Wayne Tinney said the game dinner is the group's major fundraiser and has fueled its charitable endeavors for 40 years

"We always give back to our youth because they are the most important part of our community so we donate all of our stuff to fishing derbies, scholarships, the boy scouts, and local sports organizations," Tinney said. "The money goes back to the community and the community has been very good to us."

When the clock struck 5, trays of bear meatballs, rabbit, smoked salmon, moose, elk, black bear teriyaki, and a pot simply labeled "chili" were brought out by black aproned cooks.

There was even talk of camel meat that supposedly tasted like beef and lamb but with a leathery texture.

Tinney said many consider this game dinner the best in the area. He added people come from New Jersey, Boston, and New York to get a taste.

Tickets are needed to reserve a seat at the table, but are not easy to come by.

"That's one of the good things. Over the year's people have been coming and they want to come back," Tinney said. "Those people want another ticket and it quickly sells out. It's sold out year after year. People that started it brought their kids and now their kids are bringing their kids."

This seems to be part of what the Adams Outdoorsmen for Youth look to inspire — family, tradition, and the love of the outdoors. Tinney explained that the game dinner funds family fishing derbies.

"We teach the kids the proper way to fish and the safety tips that go with it. If they don't have a pole we get them one," he said. "It's just a nice day where everyone comes together."

Soon after the food was placed on the long table spanning the hall, the waiting game begins. As tables were called to make their selection from the buffet arms shot into the air and boisterous cheers were heard.

While patrons waited their turn and quelled their hunger with pre-feast salad, bread, and soup, they tried their luck on the raffle items that filled the Eagles Hall stage.

Tinney announced a special raffle item: a stainless steel Remington bolt action rifle. This rifle was the favorite of longtime member Robert "Bob" Sifton who died soon after last year's game dinner.

"Last March, we lost one of our most generous members and donators of game meat," he said. "For over the last 25 years Bob made sure everything was taken care of and he always set aside caribou, moose, deer, and bear for the events. We never had to ask him."

Sifton's wife and a friend purchased the rifle for the raffle.

The 40th game dinner called for something special and the past presidents, James Carpenter, Jody Goff, Mike Kruszyna, Wayne Lillie, and Tom Tinney were honored.

Wayne Tinney called the past presidents to the stage and asked all members to reflect on the groups beginnings.

He explained that the group started with a dozen members who just wanted to raise money for kids in the community. Founder James Carpenter saw the group grow from a small group of buddies to a group of supporters that spill out into the Eagles Parking lot.

"Forty years have been wonderful. We can all agree we have had great help, great people, and great support," Wayne Tinney said. "In 1976, Jimmy Carter was president, gas was 59 cents, and that was the first year Jimmy Carpenter became our president. Forty years ago, he started a great organization and for 40 years we have helped many youth groups and families ... that's what we do."

State Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, who often frequents the game dinners, congratulated and thanked the group's organizers.

"This is a wonderful club, and I don't know if you really know how wonderful all of the things that you do that help the youth in our region are," she said. "It really is outstanding and there is nothing that I know of anywhere else in this county, and even in Western Mass, like this." 

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