ST. IGNATIUS - Hundreds turned out to the Old Town Field last Saturday for the 16th Annual St. Ignatius Volunteer Fire Department Firemen's Picnic.

Games, live and silent auctions, and of course, plenty of barbecue highlighted the event that has become a summer staple in Mission.

"We started up with one little canopy and grossed about eight or $10,000," Tim Mitchell, a volunteer firefighter and organizer who has attended every picnic, said. "Now we should be over $30,000."

The department didn't quite reach their goal, but ended up grossing approximately $26,000, according to volunteer Fred Gariepy.

"It's just economic conditions," Gariepy said. "We had great support from the community. People just aren't spending as much because surplus cash is not what it used to be."

Some of the attendees came from as far away as New Zealand, Texas and Quebec, Mitchell said, officially making the picnic "world-renowned." Despite less money, the department sold about 675 plates of food, one of their highest totals ever, Mitchell said. The hungry patrons went through half a cow, one whole buffalo, two and a half pigs, 30 turkeys and 400 hot dogs.

"Our food service has gotten better [over the years]," Mitchell said.

St. Ignatius currently has 18 volunteers on the fire squad, and a seven-person committee has been planning the picnic since February.

"All the money goes to equipment for the fire department,"

Mitchell said. "We try not to go after taxpayers with mill levy increases."

Instead, locals helped fundraise at a fun, community-based picnic. The live auction attracted a large crowd as Steve Allard, of Allard Auctions, emceed the event. Most of the items sold were donated by individuals or businesses and helped earn funds that go directly to the volunteers. A pack of fireworks went for $600, Mitchell said, while split rail fencing and cut and wrapped buffalo meat were popular items at the auction, which featured all sorts of things.

"I think everybody thinks we're doing pretty good because this is the sixteenth year and it keeps getting better and better," Mitchell said. "The community does a really good job of supporting us."