Hayfield man wins in first-ever Gun Bingo

A Dodge County man has come away as the big winner in a first of its kind fundraiser featuring guns of all things.
Brady Kramer of Hayfield was the winner of the first Gun Bingo game on Thursday night, Sept. 12 at the Servicemen's Club in Blooming Prairie. He was given a certificate to pick up his gun at the Weibke Fur Company in Eitzen, Minn.
The fundraiser, which was sponsored by the Dodge County Corn Growers and Blooming Prairie Cancer Group, brought in more than $17,000 aimed at fighting that dreaded disease, cancer.
"I never dreamed this event would be that successful," said Connie Trom, BP Cancer Group member and chair of this fundraiser. She said the event was a sellout with 200 tickets sold. "There's just no doubt that we will have the Gun Bingo event once again," Trom said.
Trom said she thought the community "might be burned out" after the weekend of cancer auctions but she was proven otherwise. "This is such a hunting and trap shooting community" and that made for the popularity of this Bingo party, Trom explained.
Just two years ago, Elliott Herdina and Craig Anderson came up with the idea of sponsoring a Coyotes 'Fur' Cancer fundraiser. This event last year raised over $25,000, with all proceeds going to the BP Cancer Group.
Blooming Prairie has been big on Bingo as a fundraiser and this one proved to be a popular, fun time for everyone, said Trom.
The BP Cancer Group always sponsors a Ham Bingo at Easter time and a Turkey Bingo at Thanksgiving. Two years ago, the Cancer Group started a Purse Bingo event that has also proven to be popular.
The Servicemen's Club turned out to be a perfect venue for the Gun Bingo with food and beverages available for everyone.
Trom learned about the idea of Gun Bingo from her sister Michelle Faelaki's boy friend, who said gun bingo was a success in Pennsylvania. Proceeds went to a local fire department.
Ten games were played with each winner receiving a certificate to
pick up a gun. Five raffles for guns were also held, with each raffle consisting of 50 tickets.
Haley Tollefson was the Bingo caller for the evening. BP Cancer Group members took care of registration and also doubled as wait people.
One might expect this event to attract mainly men but there were many women who also played Gun Bingo on this particular evening.
 
Lots of door prizes were donated by Brian Johnson and Dennelle Johnson, in memory of their son Dylan (#44 in Demolition Derby circles). Dylan's aunt Denise Krell helped distribute the prizes to the lucky winners.
Eight of the 10 Bingo games were sponsored in honor of loved ones stricken by cancer.
The first game of the evening was sponsored in memory of Jim Prihoda. Other special honors were given to Gail Anderson, Elaine Klemensen, Claremont Chamber of Commerce in memory of local citizens hit by cancer, Darrell Trom, Steve Bernholtz and Marlene Symes.