Tennant: Spirit of the West Event Celebrates Wild Horses

Kay Winters is probably Dayton and Nevada’s best ambassador, and I was so proud to see her recognized as the honored guest at the Spirit of the West wild horse fundraiser on Aug. 26 at the Governor’s Mansion.

“Kay has always supported and protected our wild horses,” said Bonnie Matton, one of the event organizers who is with the Dayton Wild Horse League.

(Kay celebrates her 95th birthday in November and is still active with her favorite causes and we so admire her spirit.)

Wild horse preservation enthusiasts filled the room’s 140 tables, and when the event ended, attendants said they hope this first Spirit of the West event will not be the last.

My sister Gloria and I attended the event that was sold out before Saturday night. We were lucky to get tickets.

We were pleased to see many of our Dayton friends and to feel the spirit of the West that was in full swing for nearly three hours.

Matton said their total earnings have not yet been tallied; however, they sold 140 tickets, which brought in $4,900, along with $1,338 from the silent auction and received a $1,000 check that night from an anonymous donor.

This event was exceptional because it created the kind of camaraderie that is difficult to explain in words — entertaining a crowd of folks for three hours can be a challenge, but boredom was not in the cards at this event.

Really, dinner was delicious, the talented western musicians and their humorous verse set the stage for success. Everyone had fun and supported the wild horses, too.

Amazingly, everyone, including the entertainers, donated their time for this event.

Congratulations to the event coordinators, including chairperson Dorothy Nylen of Dayton.

Some of the proceeds will be used to support a special birth control program that will go into effect soon.

Originally Posted By The Reno Gazette Journal