2008 Suburban Winner

Hillary Sutherland got her birthday present a couple months early this year.

Matt Sutherland of Independence, Kansas was planning to buy his wife a new Suburban for her birthday in April. Then his ticket—No. 213—was drawn in Delta's 11th annual Suburban raffle, and now he won’t have to.

Matt flew to Bismarck, North Dakota to collect his—uh, her—prize, which he drove home the same day. It's a 12-hour drive to Independence, but Matt didn’t seem to mind.

"I've been buying tickets for five years," he says. "It's for a good cause—Delta does great things."

Matt helped start the Tulsa, Oklahoma chapter and served as its first treasurer before moving to Independence.

2007 Suburban Raffle Winner

David E. Snowden has been buying three tickets every year for several years.

This time it paid off as the Little Rock, Arkansas Delta member's ticket was drawn in this year's Suburban raffle.

Snowden, left, is shown accepting the keys to his new Suburban from Delta Vice President John Devney.

2006 Suburban Raffle Winner

Peter Huff from Syracuse, NY won the 9^th Annual Suburban Raffle with ticket # 121. The drawing for this year’s raffle was held on January 26^th.  Peter, a long time supporter of Delta, had purchased a ticket every year but last, only because by the time he called in they were all sold out.

Huff has just recently received his grand prize, taking possession of the new vehicle from Minnesota Motor Company of Fergus Falls, MN and it’s owner Steve Brimhall

Delta would like to thank all of those who participated in this years Suburban Raffle and offer its congratulations to Mr. Huff.

2005 Suburban Raffle Winner

Delta Waterfowl would like to congratulate Cal Beisswanger Sr. of Oak Brook, IL on winning the 8th Annual Suburban Raffle with ticket #222. Mr. Beisswanger buys tickets each year and for the last few years has been purchasing three tickets, one for himself, his son and his daughter.  Cal and his wife Joy are shown here along with Steve Brimhall (far left), owner of Minnesota Motor Company, Fergus Falls MN, and Scott Terning (far right) Regional Event Director (Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota).  Number two is my lucky number, states Cal.  When I heard I had the choice between 2 and 300 (Cal was the second person to buy this year) I simply used all my lucky numbers.

Cal is an avid Waterfowler and has pursued his passion all over the North American Continent.  When not tending to his meat business in the hustle and bustle of Chicago, Cal makes his annual pilgrimage to Louisiana in pursuit of ducks and geese.  His most recent trip provided some wonderful Specklebelly geese.  “We also do some hunting across the border in Canada and I’ve traveled to Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods and Prairie Canada as well.”  Cal and his wife Joy both enjoy the outdoors, their 2 children and the grandchildren.  Cal speaks fondly of times spent a field with his family and recounted days watching rafts of Bluebills in the thousands with his daughter, in and around the great lakes area. “You’d see flocks clouding the skies and then 60 or 80 would drop down and land until eventually the lake was loaded.”  As Cal and Joy traveled from the Fargo ND airport to Fergus Falls to pick up their Suburban, Cal would enthusiastically point out the flocks of geese and ducks migrating in and out of the town of Fergus Falls.  “I’ve been listening and watching for years as Cal has pointed to each and every duck and flock we’ve seen in our travels, claims Joy. His enthusiasm and enjoyment of waterfowl hasn’t seemed to diminish.”

Cal is an avid decoy collector and in the past has teamed with Joy to create their own versions of the “attractive art”.  “I used to do the carving and detail work and then Joy would put the paint to them.”  It was time spent together in a creative avocation.  With a grown family of their own and with growing grandkids Cal talked of Delta Watefowl’s mission and vision.  “The grandkids are our future, if we don’t advocate hunting, promote hunting and pass it along to them then we aren’t doing our part.  The research that Delta Waterfowl does, the quality of the students involved and their impact in various organizations, both private and public is tremendous.”  Cal witnessed research students on the job first hand in a past visit to the Delta Marsh.  Cal not only expressed his appreciation for Delta through his words but just this past autumn also became a lifetime member.

Thanks to everyone who purchased a ticket in support of Delta and it's programs. It is truly appreciated!

2004 Suburban Raffle Winner

But Dave’s luck was about to change. When he finally got home, there was a message from Delta Waterfowl on his answering machine.

“The lady said she needed to check my ticket number,” Dave says. “I figured I’d won a shotgun or something.” When he returned the call, Dave was stunned to learn his ticket had been drawn in Delta’s Suburban raffle.

“If my wife had sent the check when I asked her to, my ticket number would have been about 40—that’s what it usually is. By sending the check so late, we got the winning number (240). I guess my wife is the lucky one.”

You think? A year earlier Dave’s wife Cindy entered a lottery and won a quarter of a million dollars in gold.

Dave was in Bismarck recently to pick up his new vehicle at Puklich Chevrolet. He says he plans to sell the Suburban and use part of the proceeds to become a life member of Delta Waterfowl. “I’ve always wanted to be a life member,” he says. “I believe in what Delta’s doing. I guess this is a good time to do it.”