Wild Game Feed :: History
For many years, the Cupertino Host Lions Club set up a booth for the sale of the fireworks for the July Fourth celebration. Lion Ron Joelson had great influence over GEMCO who allowed us exclusive rights to their storefront. This was the fundraiser for out charitable programs. Lion Ron, being a strong advocate for the sight conservation, had qualms over being in this activity, but being a member of the Cupertino Host Lions Club, loyally supported this program. He might have influenced the Board of Directors to seek a new and safer fund raising program.
Lion Pete Camarda came forth with a wonderful and productive idea. It was to use the talents of a large population of outdoorsmen to work together, hunting animals that sportsmen loved to eat and serving this to the male community. Thus, on Thursday June 5, 1975, the first Wild Game Feed came into being. The tickets were $8.50 each but it was possible to extract a few more bucks from the attendees. One of the uninitiated volunteered a compliment to the cooks, "The was the best roast duck that I ever had." The duck just happened to be a Mud Hen from Los Banos. No one asks anymore, they just enjoy.
Before the year was over, someone reread the laws of Lionism and the state. The money collected at a public fundraiser had to be returned to the public. The plan to keep the dues down was lost, but the Wild Game Feed has grown each year. Many of our charitable institutions look forward to our Wild Game Feed because their budget depends on our success.
Work for the 1st Thursday in June starts immediately after the Wild Game Feed. Hunters begin their quest for the wild boar, venison, elk coot and anything else in season. Huge freezers keep the game fresh. The Wild Game Feed had its beginning in the Blackberry Farm owned by the Nelson family. Tommy Nelson was a member of our Lions Club, so it was possible to prepare the dinner over a period of a week and having fun doing it and knowing that the park would be available next year.
With the popularization of the Blackberry Farm came the pressure from the city elders to try to acquire the Blackberry Farm for the City of Cupertino's population. With the business boom created by the high tech businesses, the cost of housing surrounding the Blackberry Farm Park attracted new citizens looking for a bargain. Soon, the low cost housing was raised and castles emerged. A new and financially wise citizenry came to realize that a noisy event would break the silence once each year. New rules were established; finally making the Cupertino Blackberry Farm not suitable for this event.
In the late 1990s, the Wild Game Feed was moved to Naperdak Hall in north San Jose. It is perfect for this event with wonderful facilities and without private nearby housing. The Wild Game Feed has expanded with more food, more exciting and sought after raffle items and better availability to more outdoorsmen. The tickets are sought after. Our major problem is to let them know the ticket availability and cost.
This program requires the time and talents from every member and as many volunteers as we can find. Lions from other clubs and members of various sportsman groups join with us to help. The food ranges from game to all manner of seafood, assortment of breads, soups and Texas Jack Rabbit Chili Beans. There are liquid refreshments, desserts and coffee, and everyone goes home full - very full - and begins to anticipate next years event.
