Fern 45 event raises $120,000 for veterans

Even after 11 years, the Fern 45 continues to outdo itself.
Along with a host of activities throughout the three-day event, this year’s Fern 45 Off-Road Poker Run raised $120,000, which will be distributed to veterans organizations and individual veterans in need, according to Fern 45 President Kelly Walsh.
A total of 338 vehicles participated in this year’s poker run, which was down from 412 last year, but the live auction, raffle and Texas Hold ‘Em tournament more than made up for the decrease in entry fees, Walsh said. He said paintings donated by Sergio Gutierrez alone raised between $10,000 and $12,000.
Dirk Jensen of Gardnerville was the winner of this year’s poker run with a four-of-a-kind.

With live music all three nights and free entry into the venue, Walsh said attendance ranged from about 800 to 1,500. He estimated there were about 230 campers this year, but said there is space for twice that many, so the event still has plenty of room to grow.
During Saturday morning’s mandatory meeting for the poker run, Walsh asked how many participants were first-time participants in the Fern 45.
“There’s usually about five, but this year I couldn’t even count them,” he said. “There must have been about 40. And most of those first timers will become regulars.”

There were also 33 vendors, some selling products, others passing out information, and to bring the campers and vendors together, the event included a vendor run, where everyone with a camping pass went through the line of vendors on their way to the stage.
Legacy Airbase, a nonprofit organization that is building a replica airbase at Dayton Valley Airpark, provided two vintage World War II planes for the flyover to start Saturday’s festivities.

But the focus of the entire endeavor is veterans, and Walsh said the Fern 45 Board of Directors will meet on Nov. 21 to decide how to distribute this year’s proceeds. In addition, he said the organization tries to keep $30,000–$35,000 for its Donate to Heartbeats program, which provides support to local veterans such as home repairs, appliances and financial assistance for living expenses. Walsh said applications for those funds are usually approved within a few days with proof of military service.
“That’s real help, not red tape,” he said.