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More than 700 guests attended the Wild Game Dinner last Saturday at Dripping Springs Ranch Park, and together they raised around $115,000 for local charities. But before anyone raised a fork at dinner or a paddle during the auction, a lot of work had to be done behind the scenes.
Bill DeWinne is chairman of this year’s event, which is the 35th annual Dripping Springs Wild Game Dinner. When we caught up with him at Dripping Springs United Methodist Church the day before the dinner, he emphasized the role of the volunteers who make the event happen.
“Today is prep day, so we probably had 50 volunteers in church this morning prepping - cutting meat, making sausage, seasoning, and getting things ready over at Ranch Park,” DeWinne said. “And tomorrow we'll have at least 50, maybe close to 75 volunteers dressing tables and putting up directional signage.”
DeWinne has been involved with the event for over 20 years. He said the spirit and camaraderie are a big part of what keeps him coming back. People genuinely want to pitch in and help.
“We started Wednesday night when it was freezing cold,” De-Winne said. “We probably had 25 guys here, and we moved 500 pounds of wild game out of the freezer with a bucket brigade. We loaded it into our coolers and on our trailers and then brought it down to Fellowship Hall. Then we unloaded it the same way.”
He said the job was done in record time, because people get really motivated when it’s that cold out.
Once the meat is all thawed, then it’s time for the cooking, which starts at 1 a.m. on the day of the dinner.
“We’ll be getting all the warmers and the smokers and the barbecue units fired up,” DeWinne said. “So yeah, it's a beehive of activity.”
Cody Kidwell, the owner and head chef at Verde's on Hamilton Pool Road, is one of those who helped out with the meal preparations.
“He's new to our group this year, and he's given invaluable assistance with all of his equipment, his knowledge, and his expertise in all manners culinary,” DeWinne said.
Another returning volunteer was Brian Sherman.
“I’m a youth director, and so that's how I really got plugged in,” Sherman said. “It's an amazing event that brings so many men and women together that just pour into this event. It's the best.”
He said the fellowship is one of his favorite things about the event.
“On Friday morning of the day before, everyone is just prepping all of the meat and all the dishes, and you just get to have good conversations,” Sherman said. “Then also the amount of funds that it raises. Almost everything goes back into the community, which is so cool.”
Dakota Kinsey, a volunteer and church member who recently moved to San Antonio, was also present on Friday for preparations. He said even though he no longer lives nearby, he keeps coming back.
“Everything brings me back here in a sense, because this event itself was a pivotal moment in my walk of faith and my experience with God,” Kinsey said. “After my first Wild Game Dinner, I went ahead and joined the church as a full member, and I got baptized because of the fellowship and the community that was shown to me here.”
Last year’s event chairman was Mike Milliken. He said he was surprised when he was asked to be the chair, because he still felt like a newcomer to the group, having only started attending in 2021. But from that moment, the Wild Game Dinner took on a whole new meaning for him.
“This event has become so much more to me than I ever imagined,” Milliken said. “It’s not just a dinner; it’s a reflection of God’s work in my life and in our church. I’m honored to be a part of it.”
For those who have never been to the Wild Game Dinner, Milliken said he tries to explain that it's not just about the food or the auction.
“It’s about the community coming together, the fellowship, the chance to do something good for others. You get to enjoy great food, sure, but you also get to be part of something bigger than yourself.”
The auction is one of the highlights of the evening for many. It’s run by professional auctioneer Kent Crank.
“Kent is worth the price of admission,” DeWinne said. “He is very funny. He's not a young man, but he is the energizer bunny. He is moving around that stage getting people engaged. He runs the best live auction that I've seen in many years.”
This year, the “Paddles Up” beneficiary for the auction was Patriots' Hall of Dripping Springs. However, that’s not the only group that benefits. Event sponsors also review requests for financial assistance from charities, ministries and missions throughout the community. They identify immediate needs where they can have the highest level of impact, and put the funds to work as quickly as possible. Funding requests can be submitted at www. dswgd.com by March 1. The committee meets March 4 to review the requests.
The Wild Game Dinner started in 1991, when a group of men came together and decided that they could combine their love of God, family, friends, and cooking to bring people together to make the Dripping Springs area a better place. Over the years, the organization has distributed nearly $1 million to organizations in the area.
