One thing hunters, fishermen and all kinds of sportsmen love is getting together with their buddies to tell a fish tale or two. On Saturday, Jan. 20, the Trading Ford Baptist Church will sponsor the 2007 Sportsman Banquet.

Door prizes include a new 50 cal. CVA BuckMaster Black Powder rifle and a good used bear compound bow, 2 top quality home safes and more.

There will be a friendly competition bow shoot, a slingshot shootout and a casting contest. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.

Bring pictures for the bragging table set up to display favorite hunting and fishing pictures.

The fare will be a sportsman’s buffet. Participants are asked to bring a wild game dish or side dish. There will also be pork BBQ for those who prefer a less gamey taste.

The featured speaker is N.C. Wildlife officer Sgt. Wes Barger.

Barger, who grew up in Salisbury, is the son of the late David Barger and Lyn Barger who attended (brother, Chad, and wife, Terina, still attend) Trading Ford Baptist Church.

Having grown up enjoying the outdoors with his family, Barger decided to become a Wildlife Enforcement Officer and began work with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission in the Enforcement Division. He has been working with the agency now for almost fifteen years and is currently a Sergeant.

Barger and three other officers cover three counties (Nash, Wilson, and Edgecombe Counties) and enforce all the hunting, fishing, boating, trapping and other laws.

He will be talking to the group about wildlife officers, showing slides and sharing his brush with death from an accident years ago. Barger, wife, Shannon and two children, Garrett,5, and Olivia, 2, live in Red Oak.

To reserve your seat, call the church office at 704-633-5986 during office hours on Monday to Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. by Thursday, Jan. 18. Tickets are only $5 each and include both meal and registration for door prizes.

Seating is limited and calling to reserve a ticket is a must.

For more information, contact Pastor Mike Motley at Trading Ford Baptist Church, 704-633-5986.