Rock residents Jeremy Hansen and son Riley show off the four-wheel- drive, 12-speed diesel tractor with bucket loader they won in a fundraiser coordinated by Wildlife Unlimited in Delta, Dickinson and Iron counties.

ESCANABA — Wildlife Unlimited of Delta County, Wildlife Unlimited of Dickinson County and Wildlife Unlimited of Iron County recently ended an almost year-long joint fundraising effort by awarding an LS tractor, riding lawn mower and gun to random ticket holders.

The groups partnered to raise awareness of the activities each of them do within their respective counties and help raise funds to continue to provide improved wildlife management and habitat efforts for local outdoorsmen.

“While we are each independent entities, we share a common goal to promote the long-term sustainability of wildlife and habitat in our communities,” said Kevin Kramer, WU of Dickinson County board member. “By pooling our resources, we were able to offer a large-item raffle of this nature … something none of us could do independently.”

“This is an incredible list of prizes,” said Terry Wanic, WU of Delta County board member. “We are pleased that all three wildlife groups could work together to bring a raffle of this magnitude to local outdoorsmen, culminating with a prize drawing at our annual fundraising event.”

The first-place prize, an LS four-wheel-drive, 12-speed diesel tractor with a bucket loader, purchased from UP Tractor in Rock, was won by Rock resident Jeremy Hansen.

Second prize, a riding lawn mower purchased from 4 Seasons Small Engine in Escanaba, was awarded to Neil Stenfors of Norway.

The third prize, a rifle with wood stock and a scope, purchased from M&C Gun Shop of Gladstone, was won by Gladstone resident Jason Arkens.

“All of the expenses of this raffle were shared equally between the three organizations, and the profits of the raffle were also shared equally, so that each county benefited from the effort,” WU Iron County board member Rick Commonator said. “We wanted to promote our organization while raising funds to benefit local efforts.”

For more information on wildlife initiatives in the three counties, go to their respective WU websites: www.wildlifeunlimteddc.org for Delta County, www.wudc.org for Dickinson County and www.wluoic.org for Iron County.