Bang Up Job
2024 Trap Shoot Participants
The crowd had to squish together get everyone in the group picture for our historic Home Building Foundation Trap Shoot. This year’s event at the Portland Gun Club is the 20th, which has grown from just 12 Teams in 2005 to 80 in 2024.
Some of the people who created the Trap Shoot shared its backstory during opening ceremonies. HBA CEO Dave Nielsen explained they were looking for a fundraising event idea, and modeled Portland’s after a Trap Shoot down Sacramento, California. Nielsen admits, after a slow start, “Everyone kind of committed to it, and within a few years, it had grown to where it is now, and it keeps growing. It’s a fantastic thing everyone is proud of it.”
Former Foundation Executive Director Mel Duncan sees the Trap Shoot as a great way to support the shelter building and education programs the Foundation provides. “Everyone has a heart for other people, for fixing things, for building things ... we were able to bring people together for a common cause, doing very wonderful things.”
Keith Steffen( left) accepts a new rifle from Brian Boggs (right)
The opening ceremony honored spotlight on Keith Steffen, who contends the event seems to be blessed. With the exception of one of the first Trap Shoots where it poured down rain, the weather has been great the other 19 years. Steffen’s dedication was honored with a gift of a new rifle, given by HBF Board Vice President Brian Boggs.
The 20th event starts with a delicious breakfast, with Garrett of CFM serving as head chef. The Gun Club featured booths from industry suppliers, event donor Proletariat Butcher, and some of HBF’s nonprofit partners Constructing Hope, Cultivate Initiatives, and Do Good Multnomah. HBF’s Development manger Kyle Ellerbe says sees the Trap Shoot is “not a competition, it’s more like a social carnival.” To his point, folks win prizes with amazing raffle give-a-ways. And there is great food, this year a lunch of southern barbecue.
Winners Circle
There are plenty of the shooters who come to the Trap Shoot to win. A long line of hopefuls lined up for the mid-day Annie Oakley elimination contest. Teams also compete for their names to be engraved on HBF’s Trap Shoot trophies. 2024 Winners are:
· Trap Shoot Annie Oakley Winner 2024- Loy Russell
· Trap Shoot Team Winner- Merten and Sons
· Trap Shoot Women’s Team Winners- CFM Flooring
For most of the attendees, the event is a winner for the networking opportunities it provides. Parr Lumber’s Brian Kegg says sponsorship provides benefits to his company as well. “The work the foundation does it is so aligned with what we believe in-you are just so easy to support. The fact that all you people out here -this is such a fun day and to be able to network and see all of your friends and other people in the industry, it’s just a fantastic day.” The Trap Shoot is a favorite here at the Foundation both as a fundraiser, and friend-raiser. For the Foundations bottom line, the 20th Trap Shooter hit all its marks, raising the highest ever gross revenue ever.