Patterson Ducks Unlimited holds 30th annual banquet

The Patterson Chapter of Ducks Unlimited held its 30th annual membership banquet Friday, an event that Patterson chairwoman Jennifer Thibodaux said would be the group’s largest in its history.
Thibodaux said Friday the group presold 36 tables and were expecting from 350 to 400 people.
Friday’s event featured a silent auction, a live auction, raffle and door prizes.
While some of the proceeds raised for the organization at the event stay in the area for local projects, most go to Ducks Unlimited’s national headquarters and are used for conservation activities and boosting duck numbers.
Locally, the chapter undertook a wood duck box project in the lower Atchafalaya to boost numbers for the bird, which Thibodaux said is native to Louisiana.
She said a sponsor gave them the boxes and they purchased 30 more. Thibodaux said the group plans to do more projects around St. Mary Parish.
“We wanted to be just more than a banquet, so we chose to do this wood duck box project,” Thibodaux said.
By doing the work and increasing numbers, it helps keep duck hunting going so future generations can enjoy them.
Patterson’s Ducks Unlimited Chapter has between 300 and 400 total members, Thibodaux said, that come from St. Mary Parish and beyond.
“They come from all over,” she said.
Membership in the club is open to anyone, Thibodaux said. Among the ways members can join are by visiting www.la.ducks.org or contacting any member of the organization.