If the speed at which tickets sold out is any indication, the 2017 Fred Garner Memorial Banquet was sure to be a success.

More than 300 people filled the Cugnet Centre on Saturday night for the annual awards and fundraiser night hosted by the Weyburn Wildlife Federation (WWF).

The night's biggest winner was Weyburn's John Van Winkoop who was honoured with the 2016 Fred Garner Memorial Award for Outstanding Member of the Year.

"He's a long time member, awesome guy, he would give the shirt off his back for anything," said WWF president Tim Kerslake.

"(He) helps wherever needed, he's in the pits with us all the time."

Another big winner of the night was Weyburn's Ryan Lauf for his non-typical mule deer taken by archery.

The buck was 217 5/8, which secured Lauf two awards at the Fred Garner Banquet as well as first place in province, winning the 2016 Henry Kelsey velvet category.

Another big highlight at this year's banquet was the wild boar meat served during the dinner.

"It's all the local hunters that go out and tag their animals and they have extra meat and they donate it towards out club for our banquet," Kerslake said.

"I think somebody said it's 1.4 pound per person, and we're not tea and crumpet eaters, we're good big hearty eaters, so we need that 1.4 pounds."

Below is a list of the 2016 Fred Garner Memorial Awards.

Deer, 169 7/8

Fred Garner Memorial Award for Outstanding Member of the Year

  • John Van Winkoop (2016)
  • Previous winners: Fred Garner (2006), Joe Honig (2007), Norm Verbeurgt (2008), Larry Olfert (2009), John Whitell (2010), Vic Tremblay (2011), no nominee (2012), Ken Dodd Dr. (2013), Gord Lansdell (2014) and Glen Fleming (2015).