Cookout a Success. Thank You! 

Friends of the Scenic Drive would like to thank all the folks who made Cookout at the Ranch V a success. And we are also thankful for an Arizona evening with temperatures in the 80's and a beautiful  Sonoran setting. 

Thank You Guests!

More than 425 guests purchased tickets to this year's event.  And guests further supported our efforts by enthusiastically participating in a silent auction and several raffles. Items that were raffled off included a balloon flight for two, a wheel barrow full of liquid refreshments (we're not talking soda pop) and dinners donated by local restaurants. 

Thank You Sponsors and Co-organizers!

The annual event would not be possible without the major sponsorship of Outback Steakhouse and MacDonald's Ranch, who donate the food and facilities including hayrides. In addition more than 60 localsteak cartoon businesses [Read More] sponsored the event by donating merchandise and services which were auctioned or raffled off to guests . These items included rounds of golf at a prestigious resort, paintings, sports souvenirs and gift certificates at local stores. We especially appreciate the work of the ranch hands who kept the hayrides rolling on schedule.

Once again, the McDowell Sonoran Land Trust  and the Desert Foothills Land Trust helped organize the event. The McDowell Sonoran Land Trust handled arrangements with participating exhibitors.

Thank You Exhibitors!

Interesting exhibits really added to the evening's fun. Somehow it's hard to be bored when you're face-to-face with a great horned owl or a Harris hawk. The following exhibitors were on hand to provide information on local wildlife, history, preservation efforts and community issues. 

  • Arizona Game and Fish
  • Foothills Animal Rescue
  • Liberty Wildlife
  • Southwest Wildlife Rehabilitation
  • Wild at Heart
  • Desert Botanical Gardens
  • Desert Foothills Land Trust
  • McDowell Sonoran Land Trust
  • Pueblo Grande Museum
  • Scottsdale Historical Society
  • Sierra Club
  • City of Scottsdale: Desert Foothills Character Area Study
  • Coalition of Pinnacle Peak
  • Greater Pinnacle Peak Homeowners Association
  • Rural Metro

And if guests were not enjoying the exhibits, the were enjoying Geoff Conklin's performance of country, Buffet and James Taylor tunes. 

 Thank You Volunteers!

We thank all the volunteers who helped plan the cookout, solicited merchant donations and sold tickets. The cookout ran smoothly because 25 volunteers were on-hand to be sure that guests had a great time. On the day of the event some volunteers were hard at work at 6:30 AM - almost 12 hours before the official start-time - covering tables and preparing the cookout site. Special thanks to the Berkners, Myers and Conklins who went "above and beyond" in helping to prepare for the cookout.  

Thank You Leaders and "Special" Friends!

We also appreciate the show of support by community leaders. Mayor Mary Manross and City Councilmen, Ned O'Hearn, George Zracket and Tom Silverman were all  welcomed guests. 

Several "Special Friends of the Scenic Drive" were recognized for their extra-ordinary contributions to the Scenic Drive during the past year. 

Tony Nelssen for obtaining a donation of plants and trees, valued at $25,000. The plants and trees are being used to re-vegetate parts of the Scenic Drive.

Howard Myers for organizing a group of volunteers to help the City of Scottsdale enforce the sign ordinance along the Scenic Drive.  

It all added up to a special Arizona evening. All proceeds will support the Scenic Drive and desert preservation. Thank you all!

Information About Past Cookouts

Cookout at the Ranch has become an area tradition. If you would like to read about past cookouts, visit the stories we wrote about Cookout at the Ranch IV,  Cookout at the Ranch III and Cookout at the Ranch II.

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