212 hosts wild game feeding frenzy

If you have adventurous palate, support local kids and/or know Mark Fonder, you may have been one of the several hundred hungry people who lined up and plated up at 212: The Boiling Point Monday and Tuesday nights. 

The Brandon Valley Optimist Club’s 10th annual Wild Game Feed brought in donations for BV School District’s Angel Tree funds and introduced several new creature features among the dozens of donated dishes.

212 owner Fonder rattled them off – rattlesnake, llama, wild boar, red stag, camel, armadillo and this year’s most talked-about dish, iguana.

Smartphones were all a-click as chef Jesse Seversen brought out the colorful reptile with part of its tail in its mouth. 

The Barrelhouse chef was among the crew that got the fire going bright and early Monday morning.

“We started at 7 a.m. with the hogs,” said Fonder, who also owns the Barrel House, Double D Saloon and Craven. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun.”

As to why the local restauranteur goes to all the trouble, he puts its simply: “It’s for the kids.”

Last year’s Wild Game Feed brought in $10,000 in free-will donations from the community. 

Fonder upped the stakes for 2018. Just a bit. 

“Mark shot us off a big one this year. He’s hoping for $20,000,” said Todd Winkel, chairman of the Wild Game Feed. “I think anything’s possible. And I’m an optimist, right?”

By 6 p.m. Monday, the line was out the door with not an empty chair in the house.

“It’s just as crazy as ever, maybe more,” Winkel said. 

Dale Solberg, Marty Henriksen and Todd Brannan grabbed a table early. 

“We’re here to support Mark Fonder,” Solberg said. “We need more of these fundraisers.”

Brannan said he comes for the good food – “Last year they had the most amazing elk goulash” – and he’s typically drinking at 212 anyway. 

Praise for 212’s owner continued to flow, too. 

“We mostly started coming because of Fonder, but now we come to help the kids,” said Arianna Schmiesing.

“Where else can you try iguana?” added her husband, James. 

“Mark is so great. He’s so community-oriented. Anything he puts on, any benefit, I’m going to be there,” said Tom Szalat as he waited in line. “He puts out the effort; the least I can do is support the community, too.” 

Donations from Wild Gamers help feed students from low-income families in the school district, outfit them with hats and mittens and supply them with backpacks through Feeding South Dakota. 

“The way members of the community have gotten behind this – that’s what makes it so special,” Winkel said.

A.J. Menden was there for his second game feed and first as Optimist president.  

“It’s amazing how many people come out and donate,” Menden agreed, adding, “this offers one of the better varieties of game.”

Dishes included Korean elk barbeque balls, cheesy smoked venison sausage, rabbit stew, deer roast, walleye, and a lot more. 

Fonder said bringing in new types of game was part of the fun.

“I’ve been to a lot of wild game feeds and – not to brag – but 212’s is the most unique. We don’t do normal dishes,” he said.

KELO cameraman Kevin Kjergaard captured footage as people filled their plates in the buffet-style setup.

“I’ve been here every year shooting and I’ve never seen it this full of people,” he marveled. 

Ron Fonder admitted he was a pretty proud papa.

“It speaks for itself,” he said. “Every year it gets a little bit better.”