Exotic animals on the menu

Iguana, armadillo and a host of exotic food was served in Brandon as a fundraiser for local children.

The Brandon Valley Optimist Club hosted its 10th annual Wild Game Feed on back-to-back evenings – Jan. 8 and 9 – at 212 Boiling Point.

“The idea here is that we’re feeding people who in turn help us feed local kids,” said Optimist Club Secretary Jeremy Risty.

Last year, the event raised funds that supplemented zero-balance lunch accounts for Brandon Valley School District students and fueled a program that provided backpacks with food for children who may not have had food at home. Programs have yet to be designated as recipients of this year’s funds, but Risty said the Optimist Club will continue to put the money toward helping kids.

The restaurant and bar was packed both nights with patrons from Brandon and Valley Springs along with the surrounding area, including Luverne, Minnesota, and Sioux Falls.

Matt McGill of Sioux Falls attended the event with his nephew, Maddux McGill. Along with trying armadillo and iguana for the first time, Matt said he added lamb and pheasant to his plate.

“It’s a chance to get stuff to eat you won’t get anywhere else around here,” he said.

Along with the ability to help area kids, Risty said patrons are drawn to the Wild Game Feed to taste new foods.

“People like to experiment,” he said. “How many times are you going to get to say, ‘I tried frog legs or armadillo or whatever.’ It’s just a fun event.”

212 Boiling Point owner Mark Fonder shut down the house grill on both nights, and Risty said the Optimist Club was appreciative of the local restaurant and sports bar’s hospitality.

The Wild Game Feed’s first day, Monday, Jan. 8, was chosen to capitalize on the biggest college football game of the season, Risty said.

“We purposely coincided with the national championship game because we knew people were going to go to restaurants and sports bars to watch the game,” he said. “Why not catch all those people as well?”

Although the Wild Game Feed has been going for a decade, this was the second year it was offered on two days, instead of one. Organizers decided to expand the event after the line for food stretched out the door into frigid temperatures three years ago.

“The community responded wonderfully and has been very receptive to (expanding),” Risty said. “They’ve been very supportive of this event.”