25th Wild Game Charity Dinner was its last

The Wild Game Charity Dinner sponsored by St. John Lutheran Church held last April was its last, officials announced this week as proceeds went out to area service organizations and nonprofits.

The church is stepping away after a 25-year run of boosting Boerne area charities with the funding, officials added.

Payoff day was Wednesday, when the various charities and nonprofits sent representatives to the church to pick up envelopes with a signed check inside.

A letter dated August 2026 praised the 25 years the church prepared the annual April dinner at the Kendall County Youth Agriculture and Equestrian Center, where St. John members and volunteers entertained and fed the masses, and gathered ticket and silent auction funds to distribute every fall.

But all good things must come to an end, and St. John’s term as host has as well, organizers said.

“It is with mixed emotions that, after much prayer and consideration, we have decided that the 2026 dinner would be our final Hill Country Wild Game Charity Dinner,” the letter stated, adding, “The impact of what we have accomplished together will continue in the lives you touch every day.”

This week, the Wild Game Dinner’s 25th year saw $116,000 split among three dozen charities.

The St. John men’s breakfast and Bible study group held its very first Wild Game Dinner on June 2, 2001.

Little did they know the impact that dinner would eventually have on so many lives, planners said.

“God has blessed us through the generosity of our community, allowing us to raise nearly $960,000 for local, national and international charities,” the message stated.

When first formed, the goals were simple, according to the missive.

The letter’s authors, Richard Wagner and Lemuel Sinclair, wrote: “We hoped to create an opportunity for fellowship and community engagement. We never imagined how much this event would grow.”

St. John distributed the post to all of Wednesday’s check recipients.

“It has been a true privilege to support your missions,” the account said. “Serving those in need not only strengthens our communities but reflects the compassion and generosity we are called to live out each day.”

There is no word on whether any other church or civic organization might take on the responsibility of hosting future Wild Game Charity Dinners.